Eintracht vs Borussia Dortmund prediction, H2H and probable lineups - January 09, 2026
One of the fixtures of Bundesliga Matchday 16 will take place on Friday at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, where local side Eintracht will host Borussia Dortmund. I’m backing a bet on goals in this clash.
Match preview
Recently, Eintracht’s form has left much to be desired. Over their last six games, the Eagles managed just a single win—a narrow victory over relegation-battlers Augsburg (1-0). In addition, they’ve drawn twice (1-1 with Wolfsburg and Hamburg) and suffered three painful defeats: a heavy loss to RB Leipzig (0-6), plus Champions League setbacks against Atalanta (0-3) and Barcelona (1-2).
This poor run has taken its toll on Eintracht’s league standing: they’ve dropped out of the European qualification zone and currently sit seventh. To make matters worse, they’re also dealing with squad issues. Since late November, striker Jonathan Burkardt has been sidelined, while winger Farès Chaïbi is still featuring in the Africa Cup of Nations and preparing for Algeria’s quarter-final against Nigeria.
During the winter transfer window, Eintracht have already made one move: striker Eli Wahi will spend the second half of the season with Nice, where he’s already found the net on his debut. In Frankfurt, his departure isn’t seen as a major blow—there’s plenty of attacking depth. Notably, Ansgar Knauff is expected to start against Borussia, and the club has high hopes for him.
Borussia Dortmund, on the other hand, come into this match in far better shape. The Black and Yellows went into the break sitting second in the table and, while the title race looks tough, they’re now tipped as the main contenders for the runners-up spot. Their lead over third-placed Bayer Leverkusen stands at three points.
In their last nine matches, Dortmund have lost just once—a painful German Cup defeat to Bayer in the round of 16. Since then, they’ve notched up two wins (2-0 against Hoffenheim and Borussia Mönchengladbach) and two draws—against Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League (2-2) and Freiburg in the Bundesliga (1-1).
For the upcoming fixture, Borussia will be without central midfielder Job Bellingham, who was shown a straight red card against Freiburg. They’re also missing defender Ramy Bensebaini, who’s representing Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations. Both teams, therefore, are carrying absences into this clash—only the match itself will reveal which side handles them better.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Eintracht have conceded first in five of their last seven matches.
- Four of Borussia Dortmund’s last five games have seen fewer than three goals scored.
- Borussia Dortmund have scored first in eight of their last nine matches.
- In the last ten head-to-head meetings, Borussia Dortmund have a clear edge with seven wins. Eintracht have come out on top just twice, while one match ended in a draw.
- The last encounter between these teams came in the German Cup, where Borussia Dortmund prevailed in a penalty shootout.
Probable lineups
- Eintracht: Kauã - Collins, Koch, Theate - Kristensen, Larsson, Dahoud, Brown - Doan, Uzun, Knauff
- Borussia D: Kobel - Anton, Can, Schlotterbeck - Couto, Sabitzer, Nmecha, Svensson - Beier, Brandt, Guirassy
Prediction
Eintracht games are often high-scoring affairs. I expect this match to follow suit—with plenty of chances and goals. My prediction: over 2.5 total goals.
