Borussia Dortmund vs Koln
Borussia Dortmund plan to return to winning ways in the Bundesliga as soon as possible, following last week’s league defeat against Bayern Munich in Der Klassiker. The said loss snapped their undefeated run, and as a result, Niko Kovac’s men stumbled in the German top-flight standings.
With Top 4 rivals RB Leipzig and VfB Stuttgart getting wins in the previous matchday, Borussia Dortmund suddenly slid to fourth in the table with 14 points, level with fifth-seeded Bayer Leverkusen. This Saturday, they’ll face another Top 6 team, as Koln will pay a visit to Signal Iduna Park.
Koln have hit a rough patch recently. After opening their 2025-26 campaign with back-to-back wins against Mainz (1-0) and SC Freiburg (4-1), Lukas Kwasniok’s men have only mustered one victory in their last five matches.
Which team do you think will win this Saturday evening? Continue reading below for today’s SBOTOP preview.
Talking Points
Borussia Dortmund’s midfield is doing better
Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac made the bold move of including Jobe Bellingham in the starting XI against Copenhagen in their Champions League match yesterday, and the 20-year-old midfielder was one of the team’s top performers in the 4-2 victory.
Bellingham was fresh from a difficult game against Bayern Munich, where a mistake of his led to Michael Olise’s winning goal in the 78th minute. BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl felt he responded well against their Danish counterparts.
Bellingham teed up Felix Nmecha just outside the box for the team’s opening goal during the 20th minute. It was the Englishman’s first Champions League assist wearing a Borussia Dortmund jersey. Speaking of Nmecha, the 25-year-old midfielder was named Man of the Match after he scored a brace against Copenhagen. He now has three goals in the Champions League this term, and only one in the Bundesliga.
Karim Adeyemi, BVB’s in-form man, took the night off against Copenhagen. However, the team didn’t skip a beat, as Fabio Silva opened his Borussia Dortmund account, and Ramy Bensebaini scored too. Adeyemi will likely return to the starting XI against Koln.
Marcel Sabitzer, Niklas Sule, Julian Ryerson, and Pascal Groß could also start. BVB’s notable absences include the ever-reliable Emre Can (groin) and the young Julien Duranville (shoulder).
Koln have a new shiny gem
Said El Mala has emerged as one of Koln’s most impactful players this season. And according to head coach Lukas Kwasniok, he wouldn’t be surprised if the Billy Goats sell the 19-year-old winger for an incredible fee soon.
Per reports, PSG and Inter Milan are among those monitoring El Mala. Initially, it was suggested that a transfer fee of around €30 to 40 million would be enough to convince Koln to sell next summer, as the team ruled out a January move. However, the team would now demand around €50 to 60 million amid growing interest.
El Mala, who is under contract until 2030, already has three goals and one assist this season. He has mainly come off the bench for Koln, creating an instant impact whenever he comes on. He scored the equaliser against Augsburg and the matchwinner against Hoffenheim recently.
History
After finishing 17th in 2023-24 with only 27 points, Koln were relegated to the second division. But the Billy Goats are back in the German top-flight following a one-year absence, as they won last season’s Bundesliga 2 championship. After securing promotion, the team appointed Lukas Kwasniok as their head coach, replacing Friedhelm Funkel.
Borussia Dortmund completed a league double over Koln in their last two Bundesliga meetings, with the Yellow Wall winning 1-0 at Signal Iduna Park and 4-0 in the reverse fixture at RheinEnergieStadion. The Billy Goats’ last win in this fixture was a 3-2 result in October 2022.
Betting Tip
The Bundesliga 2025 odds favor Borussia Dortmund to rout Koln this weekend. BVB are 1.38 favourites to take maximum points, while Koln are huge 6.10 underdogs, and a draw is at 4.68 in the 1X2 market.
Borussia Dortmund’s offence is flying under head coach Niko Kovac this year, and it could overwhelm Koln’s backline, so fans at Signal Iduna Park can expect to get their usual dose of Bundesliga 2025 highlights on Saturday.
Besides our recommended bet, bettors can also add Over 3.00 at 1.68, Over 3.25 at 1.87, Over 3.50 at 2.14, and even Total Goals 4-6 at 2.38 to the parlay. Furthermore, a Correct Score of 4-0 in favour of BVB – the result of their last league encounter – is being offered at a whopping 19.00 your bet.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
