The Bundesliga resumes tonight when Borussia Dortmund play host to Eintracht Frankfurt at the Signal Iduna Park. Dortmund are 4th on the log with 4 points after beating RB Leipzig and drawing to Hannover 96. Frankfurt lay in 9th place with 3 points after a win against Freiburg but succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Werder Bremen on matchday 2. The game has an interesting backdrop to it, as Marius Wolf comes up against his former side. However, the main focus will be on Dortmund’s reaction to their last result, as well Paco Alcacer’s debut. So without further ado, let’s analyse the key factors going into this Friday night’s fixture.
Paco Alcacer’s Debut:
Paco Alcacer’s imminent debut is set to provide a whole lot of positives for Dortmund this evening. His skill set will not only add more to Dortmund’s already exciting attack, but it’ll be key to breaking down dense defenses, from a tactical point of view too. Despite his incredible physical attributes(i.e. acceleration, agility, sprint speed), Alcacer is a player who is capable of combining and creating chances in tight spaces. By playing in Valencia and Barcelona you’d trust him to do just that.
In terms of goalscoring, Alcacer has a chance to take his statistics to a much higher level. The Spaniard has the potential of a world-class forward however, something has got to give. Might Lucien Favre be the one to unlock his playing potential? Or will Alcacer have to train better and become mentally tougher? Either way, the reality is that he’s now at a club help him go from a promising talent to a feared goalscorer. Just ask his predecessors Aubameyang and Lewandowski.
Marius Wolf:
The Wolf of Westfalenstadion made his full debut last weekend and now faces his former club for the first time. Wolf, joined Frankfurt in a loan deal in January 2017, before he was signed permanently during the 2017/18 season. He appeared 30 times and provided the 6th most assists in the Bundesliga. Against a hard-running, mentally tough Frankfurt, Wolf has the opportunity to display those same strengths and counter the threat made by Die Adler.
Champions League Preparation:
Last season Dortmund were knocked out the UEFA Champions League in the first round, in a group containing Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur and Apoel Nicosia. As tough as their opponents were, Dortmund matched them in terms of star quality, with the likes of Reus, Weigl and Aubameyang. Unfortunately the overall team performances were below-par and the team was outwitted from a tactical and psychological level. This season, Lucien Favre has the team playing in an organised and efficient manner. This not only allows the team to play in a stable manner, but an exciting one too. Well exciting if they can rectify their attacking efficiency. I wouldn’t bet against it happening however.
