Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

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The Bundesliga's winter break arguably came at the wrong time for Frankfurt. Victory over Mainz on Matchday 17 was their sixth in seven matches, and propelled the Eagles up to sixth, only a point outside the UEFA Champions League qualification places. It marks quite the turnaround under Oliver Glasner, who oversaw just one win across his first 10 top-flight matches after replacing Adi Hütter as head coach in the summer. Jesper Lindstrom has been in flying form, with three goals in as many games, but is unavailable for the restart. Goncalo Paciencia is expected to come into the attack, alongside Rafael Borre, who has had a direct hand in five goals across his last four league appearances. Former BVB midfielder and Eintracht captain Sebastian Rode is also set to start in place of Kristijan Jakic, who has returned to training.

Dortmund still have a reasonable cushion in second place, despite claiming just four points across their final four matches in 2021. A 3-2 loss at Hertha Berlin compounded a disappointing run of form, and left Marco Rose's side some nine points adrift of leaders Bayern Munich at the halfway stage. Teenage midfielder Jude Bellingham was sorely missed in the capital, but returns from a mandatory one-match ban. He should be joined in the starting line-up by Raphael Guerreiro, who will hope to have put his various injury niggles behind him. The same cannot conclusively be said of Gio Reyna, the American playmaker having last played competitively on Matchday 3. Dan-Axel Zagadou joins Manuel Akanji on the sidelines, meanwhile, with Marin Pongracic set to partner Mats Hummels in central defence.

Match stats

After firing once across his first 11 Bundesliga appearances, Lindstrom has scored four in his last six.

Kostic is without a goal in five league games, and has never scored in 14 attempts against Dortmund. However, he is Frankfurt's chief provider so far this term with six assists and three goals.

Eintracht have chalked up 18 points out of a possible 21 since early November, matching defending champions Bayern in that time.

Haaland has registered six goals in his last six matches in all competitions. He is third in this season's scoring charts, with 13 goals in 11 appearances.

Bellingham is poised to make his 45th Bundesliga appearance.

Dortmund have taken 10 points from a possible 24 on the road, compared to a joint league best 24 from 27 at home.

Probable line-ups

Frankfurt: Trapp - Tuta, Hinteregger, N'Dicka - Chandler, Rode (c), Sow, Kostic - Kamada - Borre, Paciencia

Out: Barkok (Africa Cup of Nations), Da Costa (not included), Hauge (thigh), Lenz (calf), Lindstrom (not included)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Oliver Glasner

Dortmund: Kobel - Meunier, Pongracic, Hummels, Guerreiro - Bellingham, Dahoud - Brandt, Reus (c), Hazard - Haaland

Out: Akanji (knee), Morey (knee), Schmelzer (knee), Unbehaun (hand), Wolf (not included), Zagadou (not included)

Doubtful: Moukoko (muscular), Reyna (match fitness)

Coach: Marco Rose