Confirmed Lineups: Dortmund vs. Leverkusen

The 2024/25 German Bundesliga kicks off the 2025 calendar year with a highly anticipated clash between defending champions Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund. Xabi Alonso's Werkself - beginning the year in second place - seek to draw within one point of German record champions FC Bayern München at the top of the table. Nuri Sahin's Dortmund - regrettably dealing with a horribly-timed breakout of illness in their camp - presently fight to keep a tenuous hold on the second Europa League slot in sixth place.

Xabi makes just one changes to the XI that wrapped up 2024 with a massive statement win against Freiburg. Nordi Mukiele returns to start over Nathan Tella. Granit Xhaka, who had been battling ankle problems ended up being fit enough to start after all. Mukiele's inclusion likely heralds a back-four with Alejandro Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong moving up to the attacking flank spaces while Florian Wirtz works as a ten.

Sahin goes with four changes to the XI that secured a 3-1 victory over Wolfsburg just prior to the international break.Karim Adeyemi returns to take over for Donyell Malen. Yan Couto replaces the suspended Pascal Groß at right back. BVB II central defenders Almugera Kabar and Yannik Lührs are the replacements for the ill Emré Can and Nico Schlotterbeck.

Confirmed Lineups:

Leverkusen vs. Dortmund

Dortmund (4-2-3-1)

Kobel - Yan Couto, Lührs, Algumera, Ryerson - F. Nmecha, Beier, Brandt - Adeyemi, Gittens - Guirassy

Leverkusen (3-4-1-2)

Hradecky - Hincapie, Tapsoba, Tah, Mukiele - G. Xhaka, Palacios - Grimaldo, Wirtz, Frimpong - Schick