Prediction: Dortmund vs Hertha Berlin

Verdict: Both teams to score – yes

Best Odds: 11/20

Bookmaker: 888sport

Borussia Dortmund know they must win out their final games of the season to have a slim shot at winning the Bundesliga title. They will try to earn three more points Saturday at home against Hertha Berlin, a team that is yet to lose since the resumption of the league last month. Kick-off for this match has been scheduled at 14:30 GMT.

Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund are coming off a huge win last week, as they earned a massive 6-1 win over Paderborn despite going scoreless at the break. Jadon Sancho was the undisputed star of the game, notching a hat-trick in his first start since the league resumed in mid-May. The Yellow Bees currently sit in second place of the standings with 60 points (W18, D6, L5), but they are seven points adrift Bayern Munich with only five games left in the schedule. At this point, Dortmund’s best bet is to secure a UEFA Champions League berth ahead of the 2020-21 campaign. The hosts sit just four points above the fifth-placed team, Bayer Leverkusen, so they can’t afford to get complacent. Another loss here could seriously complicate their chances of a top-four finish – as unlikely as that sounds. They have the edge of playing at home, though, where they have gone W10, D3, L1 in 2019-20.

Team News

Lucien Favre’s man could be heavily depleted ahead of this contest. Star forward Erling Haaland will be out due to a knee injury, meaning Jadon Sancho will once again play in a more forward role.

Mahmoud Dahoud (knee), Marco Reus (groin), Nico Schulz (muscle) and Dan-Axel Zagadou (knee) are all out as well.

Hertha Berlin

Hertha Berlin have performed better than expected of late. The team underachieved through most of the 2019-20 season but are finally getting back on track, even if it’s too late to make a realistic run at a UEFA Europa League berth for the 2020-21 campaign. Hertha are coming off a 2-0 home win over Augsburg, pushing their undefeated streak in the Bundesliga to six games (W3, D3) while winning three of their last four league matches. They sit in ninth place with 38 points and are just four behind Wolfsburg, who sit in sixth place. A playoff berth in Europe’s second-best club competition would be a great outcome for a team that was facing a potential relegation threat earlier this season. To achieve that, however, they must deliver a good result here at Signal Iduna Park. That might not be an issue since Hertha have gone W5, D5, L4 on the road this season.

Team News

Santiago Ascacibar (foot), Thomas Kraft (back), Karim Rekik (knee), Niklas Stark (groin) and Dortmund loanee Marius Wolf (ankle) are all out for Hertha.

As if that wasn’t enough, Salomon Kalou (personal reasons) and Marvin Plattenhardt (head) are both questionable. Both players will be game-time decisions for the coaching staff.

Key Factors to Consider

• Quick start expected? Three of Hertha’s last four away games have registered the opening goal within the first 15 minutes.
• Dortmund have won seven of their last eight Bundesliga games. That lone defeat was a 1-0 loss against Bayern Munich last month.
• Dortmund have gone undefeated in their last five H2H games against Hertha (W3, D2).
• Each of the last four H2H Bundesliga matches have seen both teams scoring. Each of the last three has also produced over 2.5 goals scored.
• Hertha are riding a six-game undefeated streak in the Bundesliga (W3, D3).

Conclusion

Dortmund are clear favourites ahead of this match despite the absence of key players such as Erling Haaland or Marco Reus. Hertha are not expected to cope with Dortmund’s offensive power due to their injuries.

That said, both sides could easily find the back of the net here. Expect a game with both teams scoring.

Verdict: Both teams to score – yes

Best Odds: 11/20

Bookmaker: 888sport