The Bundesliga officially awakens from its winter nap tonight, Friday, January 9, 2026, as Eintracht Frankfurt hosts Borussia Dortmund at Deutsche Bank Park. Kick-off is set for 20:30 CET.
It is a marquee Matchday 16 opener: 2nd-placed Dortmund is looking to keep their slim title hopes alive by pressuring leaders Bayern Munich, while 7th-placed Frankfurt needs a victory to reignite their chase for a Champions League spot.
Match Details: Kick-off & Official Info
Competition: Bundesliga (Matchday 16)
Date: Friday, January 9, 2026
Kick-off: 20:30 CET / 19:30 GMT / 14:30 ET
Venue: Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt am Main
Referee: Daniel Schlager
Broadcast: DAZN (Germany), ESPN+ (US), Sky Sports (UK)
The Storyline: Defensive Stability vs. Attacking Chaos
Eintracht Frankfurt: Searching for a Balance
Dino Toppmöller’s side has been the league's ultimate "entertainer" for all the wrong reasons. While they sit 7th, they have conceded 30 goals in just 15 matches—a defensive record only surpassed by the league's bottom two. However, the Eagles are a different beast at home, where they are currently unbeaten in their last four Bundesliga outings.
The winter break was spent focusing on defensive discipline. Captain Robin Koch admitted recently that the team was "too virtuous" in the first half of the season, especially during transitions. Tonight is the first test of their newly drilled backline against one of the league's most clinical attacks.
Borussia Dortmund: The Silent Title Race
Dortmund enters 2026 in their best position in years. Under Niko Kovač, BVB has shed their "unreliable" tag, sitting 2nd with 32 points. While they trail Bayern by nine points, their consistency has been impressive; they are unbeaten in their last eight league games and possess the league's best defensive record (12 goals conceded).
For Kovač, a return to Frankfurt is always personal. He famously won the DFB-Pokal with the Eagles, but tonight he arrives with a Dortmund side that has collected more points on the road (15) than Frankfurt has at home (13).
Team News & Probable Lineups
Eintracht Frankfurt Team News
Injury Crisis: The strike force is depleted. Jonathan Burkardt (calf) and Michy Batshuayi (foot) are out. Ansgar Knauff is expected to start as a makeshift number nine.
AFCON Duty: The Eagles will miss Ellyes Skhiri and Farès Chaibi, both away on international duty.
New Face: Highly-rated signing Younes Ebnoutalib could make his debut.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Trapp; Collins, Koch, Theate; Dina Ebimbe, Larsson, Dahoud, Brown; Doan, Götze; Knauff.
Borussia Dortmund Team News
Fitness Boost: Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel has been passed fit after recovering from illness and a minor back issue.
Suspension: Jobe Bellingham is unavailable due to a red card suspension.
AFCON Duty: Ramy Bensebaini is away with Algeria.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Can; Sabitzer, Nmecha; Adeyemi, Brandt, Malen; Guirassy.
Head-to-Head (H2H) & Key Stats
Goals Guaranteed: In the last 12 league meetings in Frankfurt, 11 have ended with Both Teams to Score (BTTS).
Historical Edge: Dortmund has won more Bundesliga games against Frankfurt (51) than against any other club.
Road Warriors: Dortmund has scored in each of its last 10 competitive away matches.
Frankfurt's Achilles' Heel: The Eagles have conceded 3+ goals in four of their five matches against top-eight opposition this season.
Tactical Analysis: The Counter-Press
Frankfurt’s game plan centers on high-intensity pressing and the creative spark of Mario Götze against his former club. Without a natural striker, they will rely on Hugo Larsson and Ritsu Doan to arrive late in the box to exploit the spaces left by Dortmund’s attacking full-backs.
Dortmund will look to exert control through Julian Brandt, who has scored in three successive games. Kovač’s system favors defensive stability and quick vertical transitions to Serhou Guirassy. If Dortmund can navigate the initial Frankfurt "storm" in the first 20 minutes, their superior depth should allow them to dominate the second half.
Match Prediction
Dortmund’s defensive solidity under Kovač is the deciding factor here. While Frankfurt always brings the noise at the Deutsche Bank Park, their lack of a recognized striker and defensive fragility make them vulnerable to a disciplined BVB side.
Final Score Prediction: Eintracht Frankfurt 1–2 Borussia Dortmund
