The game of significant importance this weekend in the Bundesliga could have an impact on the European places at the end of the season. Borussia Dortmund host VFB Stuttgart with both sides eager to end the campaign inside the top four. Neither side can afford to lose this game, as it would invite the likes of RB Leipzig into the top-four conversation.
Date: 06/04/2024
Location: Signal Iduna Park
Kick-off: 17:30 pm
Borussia Dortmund have enjoyed a moderately stable campaign in the Bundesliga this season as they currently sit fourth after 27 games played so far this season. Der BVB as they are known, missed out on the Bundesliga title last season after failing to secure the league at home to Mainz on the final day of the campaign. This allowed Bayern Munich to win their respective game thanks to a late winner from Jamal Musiala. Dortmund are on course at the moment to record another qualification in next year’s UEFA Champions League.
The Black and Yellows as mentioned are fourth, having obtained 53 points from a possible 81 available to them this season. The hosts have averaged 1.96 points this season, which is a respectable points tally. Despite being cut adrift from the league leaders Bayer Leverkusen, Dortmund still competes in the UEFA Champions League in which a quarter-final clash against Atletico Madrid awaits them.
Despite speculation regarding Edin Terzic’s future, his side have scored 55 goals in 27 games this season, which gives them a rough average of 2.1 goals scored per game. Defensively, Dortmund have conceded 32 in 27 games – conceding on average 1.18 goals per game.
The hosts will be eager to repeat their performance from their recent game in Der Klassiker against Bayern Munich. A 2-0 win over Thomas Tuchel’s side effectively ended Bayern’s hopes of the title and provided their first win in this fixture since 2014.
Borussia Dortmund are four points behind Stuttgart at present. A defeat could see the home side fall behind RB Leipzig in the league table due to Leipzig having a superior goal difference to Borussia Dortmund.
As for VFB Stuttgart, they are enjoying a brilliant season as they are on course to reach the Champions League for the first time since the 2009/10 season – in which they reached the round of 16. After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Stuttgart are third after 27 games played following their recent 3-3 draw with Heidenheim. Stuttgart are amongst one of the defensive teams in the league having conceded 34 in 27 as it currently stands. This makes them the fifth-best defence in the league.
Should Stuttgart win this game over Borussia Dortmund, they could potentially move seven points clear at the end of the weekend should results fall in their favour. A win could draw them level on points with second place should Bayern Munich lose their respective game this weekend.
The recent head-to-head fixtures between the two teams suggest that the game will be evenly contested between the two sides at Signal Iduna Park. In the last five games between the pair in all competitions, both sides have taken two wins and a draw from each other.
Stuttgart has the upper hand this season, having won both the league and DFB Pokal games this season. The most recent league game was decided by a Serhou Guirassy penalty late on. Dortmund were last victorious over Stuttgart in 2022, where they ran out 5-0 winners. A certain Jude Bellingham was on hand with a brace that day.
Bundesliga 
