RB Leipzig – Dortmund

In the main match of the round, the two teams will score at least three goals.

At the Red Bull Arena, in the upcoming round there will be a clash that over the last decade has become a classic of German football. Year after year, with a brief exception, Bayern wins the German championship titles, leaving the wealthiest clubs to contend for second and third places in the Champions League zone. It is Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund that most often have led this struggle. Last season Leipzig fared so poorly that, for the first time since joining the Bundesliga, the team failed to qualify for European competitions. In the first half of the current season the Bulls have shown themselves well, but the misfortunes that have pursued since December 2025 point to Leipzig's ceiling in the fight for a place in the Champions League zone. Borussia Dortmund last season narrowly missed slipping past the elite European tournament, but the timely appointment of Niko Kovac's coaching staff led to favorable consequences at the end of the season. The Bees do not disappoint their fans this season either. In the national cup Dortmund recently became a semifinalist, in the league they firmly occupy second place and close the gap to Bayern, and in the Champions League they participate in the playoff qualifying round. Nevertheless, bookmakers have identified the home team as favorites for the upcoming match, offering odds of 2.23 on their victory. Leipzig over the last couple of months has risked losing ground in the race for a place in the Champions League zone. They are already two points behind it, risking dropping to sixth place. Bayer Leverkusen trail them by one point, but have a game in hand. All this means Leipzig should not bow to any opponents and should set up for Dortmund with the maximum aim of three points. In relation to the forecast chosen, it is worth noting that Leipzig has scored in all home matches this season, averaging two goals per game. Dortmund will travel to Leipzig in a very inconvenient period: three full days after the first Champions League match against Atalanta and three full days before the return leg in Italy. A loss of points could break the Bees in the chase for Bayern, so Kovac will urge his players to win, which would be unlikely in Leipzig unless they score two or three goals.