RB LEIPZIG VS BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Borussia Dortmund defeated RB Leipzig 3-2 in Saturday’s dress rehearsal for the DFB Pokal final. Dortmund chasing their first German Cup trophy since the 2016-17 season will be looking to build on the confidence of defeating Leipzig on the weekend.
Runners-up in 2019, Leipzig will look to win their first-ever trophy as Bayern bound Leipzig coach, Julian Nagelsman will look to leave with a trophy. As such the young German coach’s priority may be winning both his first trophy as a manager and Leipzig’s first major trophy as a club.
With the league already done and dusted, both teams will want to end their season on a high, with Dortmund entering the final for the 10th time while Leipzig will look to go one better than their 2019 loss to Bayern Munich.
TEAM NEWS
Dominik Szoboszlai’s wait to be handed his debut will continue as the winger is still ruled out with a groin injury. Lazar Samardzic is ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury while Lukas Klostermann, Christopher Nkuku and Marcel Halstenberg remain minor doubts. Nagelsmann will look to go with an unchanged side that narrowly beat Werder Bremen in the semifinal.
RB Leipzig Probable Lineup: Gulacsi; Orban, Konate, Upamecano; Mukiele, Kampl, Sabitzer, Haidara, Angelino; Forsberg, Sorloth
#MondayMotivation is easy today…
𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊! 🏆#DFBPokal #Berlin2021 #RBLBVB pic.twitter.com/Z14o3x74rb
— The DFB-Pokal (@DFBPokal_EN) May 10, 2021
Jude Bellingham who was suspended for the last domestic game after his dismissal against Wolfsburg will return to the squad. Mahmoud Dahoud will look to play alongside Emre Can and Thomas Delaney in midfield after he missed the semifinal win over Holstein Kiel due to suspension. Mateu Morey, Axel Witsel, Marcel Schmelzer, Dan Axel Zagadou, all ruled out for the rest of the season.
Borussia Dortmund Probable Lineup: Hitz; Piszczek, Akanji, Hummels, Guerreiro; Dahoud, Can; Sancho, Hazard, Reus; Haaland
GAME CHANGERS
Jadon Sancho who scored a brace on the weekend will look to carry his superb form into the final. This could well be Sancho’s last season at Dortmund, The English star was magical in the game against Leipzig on the weekend. His quick feet caused problems to the Leipzig backline.
His vision and ability to find Haaland will be crucial against the Leipzig defence that has Upamecano and Konate. Sancho is the second-highest goalscorer in the cup with four goals.
27 – With 27 goals to his name, Jadon Sancho has scored more often in the German Bundesliga than any other teenager in the history of the competition. @Optajoe takes a look at the numbers behind his career at Dortmund so far. Adored. @Sanchooo10 pic.twitter.com/f79Nbr1ayZ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 31, 2020
Emil Forsberg was the star of Leipzig’s semifinal win over Werder Bremen. The attacking midfielder scored the only goal of the game, but was a threat all game, as Bremen struggled to adapt to his pace. His creativity will be key to unlocking a rather leaky Dortmund defence. Along with captain Marcel Sabitzer, Forsberg holds the key to Leipzig’s success.
PREDICTIONS
Both teams will be in desperate need to finish the season on a high. In a league that is dominated by Bayern Munich, both Leipzig and Dortmund will have a rare golden chance at silverware this season. We expect an open game from both ends. FootTheBall predicts RB Leipzig 2-4 Borussia Dortmund
