Form
Dortmund more than made amends for their 3-1 defeat at 1. FC Union Berlin on Matchday 3 with an impressive 4-0 triumph last weekend against Bayer Leverkusen, who were unbeaten in nine Bundesliga games at the start of play. With nine points from the first four matches, BVB have one more than at this stage last season.
Their home record is particularly striking: in 19 Bundesliga home matches under Lucien Favre, the Black and Yellows have won 16 and scored at least two goals in all of them. They also came close to inflicting a defeat on Barcelona in a 0-0 draw in their UEFA Champions League opener on Tuesday.
Tactics
Favre predominantly sets his team up in a 4-2-3-1 system, with Julian Weigl and Axel Witsel currently preferred as the two holding midfielders, and marauding full-backs down both flanks. In front of them, the attacking trio centred around Marco Reus combine goal threat, pace and skill, with Jadon Sancho in particular standing out. The Englishman is the leading provider in the Bundesliga in the 2019 calendar year with 11 assists. He supplies the ammunition to striker Paco Alcacer, who is currently in prolific form having scored for the sixth competitive game in succession against Leverkusen, giving him a club record 23 goals in his first 30 appearances.
One to watch: Manuel Akanji
Sitting alongside World Cup winner Mats Hummels in the centre of defence is normally Manuel Akanji. The 24-year-old has quickly established himself as a key player following his move from FC Basel in January 2018 and is the only Dortmund player to have played every minute of the 2019/20 campaign thus far. Even an ankle injury sustained on international duty with Switzerland didn’t stop him from helping his side to secure three points against Leverkusen. Akanji is assured both against the ball and with it, winning an impressive 64.7 per cent of his challenges.
