Frankfurt vs Borussia Dortmund: Match Preview and Team Updates

Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund will meet in a Bundesliga match on Friday as they kick off their 2026 season.

Match Preview and Team News

• Date: Friday, January 9.
• Kick-off: 7:30 PM BST.
• Venue: Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt am Main.

Eintracht Frankfurt Team News

Frankfurt has strengthened its attack with new players aimed at improving their goal-scoring issues. Younes Ebnoutalib, who scored 12 goals in 17 matches in the 2. Bundesliga for SV Elversberg, has joined Frankfurt on a permanent deal until 2031. Additionally, Arnaud Kalimuendo has been loaned from Nottingham Forest with an option to buy for €27 million. Kalimuendo previously scored 34 goals in 93 games for Stade Rennes in Ligue 1.

Despite these additions, Frankfurt’s attack is still weakened. Jonathan Burkardt, who has eight league goals this season, is out with a calf injury. Michy Batshuayi has also faced a serious setback, as he underwent surgery for a mid-foot fracture and is out until at least April. Elias Baum is also unavailable due to injury.

Borussia Dortmund Team News

Dortmund has its own injury issues ahead of the match. First-choice goalkeeper Gregor Kobel left the training camp in Marbella, Spain, because of illness, making his availability for Friday uncertain. If Kobel cannot play, backup Alexander Meyer will step in, though he has not played since November 11.

On the injury front, Aaron Anselmino is close to returning, and coach Niko Kovac hopes he will be fit by the weekend. Waldemar Anton is also expected to return soon.

Midfielder Pascal Groß has left for Brighton & Hove Albion as of January 5. Kovac has confirmed that they will not be signing a replacement, stating that they have enough options in that position.

Form

Eintracht Frankfurt

Frankfurt ended 2025 with mixed results, winning only one of their last six matches across all competitions. They drew 1-1 with Hamburger SV on December 20, with Hugo Larsson scoring the equalizer. Currently, Frankfurt is in seventh place in the Bundesliga with 25 points and has scored just four goals in their last six matches.

Borussia Dortmund

Dortmund won 2-0 against Borussia Mönchengladbach in their last match on December 19. They are currently nine points behind league leaders Bayern Munich and are unbeaten in their last eight league matches, having only lost once this season to Bayern (1-2).

Predicted Lineups

Eintracht Frankfurt: Zetterer; Collins, Koch, Theate; Kristensen, Larsson, Dahoud, Brown; Doan, Gotze; Knauff.

Borussia Dortmund: Meyer; Anton, Can, Schlotterbeck; Ryerson, Sabitzer, Nmecha, Svensson; Adeyemi, Brandt; Guirassy.

How to Watch Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia Dortmund?

The match will be broadcast live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website as part of the Friday-night Bundesliga coverage in the UK.

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