Our next opponents: On course for a happy ending

Position

Borussia Dortmund are on course to have a really strong finish to the season. Borussia are unbeaten in their last six games with the last three ending in victory. It is four if you count the 3-1 win against Barcelona in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. And the Black and Yellows scored at least three goals in each of those games. There is no doubt that BVB are on the up. The team led by coach Niko Kovac had dropped down to eleventh place in the Bundesliga. They have picked up 16 points and scored 19 goals in their last six games and are now in fifth position. And they are in with a good chance of qualifying for the Champions League which seemed a remote possibility weeks ago. The gap to SC Freiburg in fourth place is just one point – BVB have everything to play for. "We have built up a momentum," declared Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl after last weekend's 4-0 victory over VfB Wolfsburg and he added: "I believe we have increased the pressure on the other teams. We are on the right track to bring out what's in the team. I see great ambition and high energy."

Serhou Guirassy gave Dortmund an early lead against the Wolves in front of a full house at the Signal Iduna Park with a crowd of 81,365. However, the hosts could not have complained if VfL Wolfsburg had equalised. "We were too static in the first half and ran round looking lost," said Niko Kovac. Guirassy put BVB further ahead after the restart with his second goal after great work from Pascal Groß. Substitute Karim Adeyemi copied Guirassy and his brace made it 4-0.

Kovac does not want allow too much self-satisfaction to build up ahead of the game against Bayer 04 on Sunday. "The team is now at a really good level. But we have to continue. We won today but it could have been much closer. So we will continue to sound a warning." Borussia Dortmund entertain relegation-threatened Holstein Kiel on the last day of the season. Borussia are looking to continue their run of wins against the Werkself and the Storks to play in the Champions League next season. "If we win both games then we will very probably make it," said Sebastian Kehl.

Personnel

It is definitely an advantage in the run-in that the whole squad is available with one exception. Only central defender Nico Schlotterbeck is sidelined through injury (torn knee cartilage). Kehl and Kovac are happy about "the high availability in recent weeks" and "good competition for places in the team."

The BVB coach has little reason to make changes to his so successful starting line-up for Sunday’s game. At the BayArena, goalkeeper Gregor Kobel will have a back three in front of him made up of Ramy Bensebaini, Waldemar Anton and Niklas Süle. Winter signing Daniel Svensson has proved himself as a wingback on the left. The 20-year-old Swede was signed by BVB at the beginning of February on loan from top-flight Danish club FC Nordsjaelland. Svensson has impressed in his previous ten games as a goalscorer and provider of two assists. His counterpart on the right is Julian Ryerson.

Germany international Pascal Groß is a first choice in central midfield. Felix Nmecha played alongside him against Wolfsburg. It is possible that the skipper Emre Can will return to the starting XI. The former Leverkusen player Julian Brandt and striker Serhou Guirassy should be first on the team sheet in attack against the Werkself. Karim Adeyemi has made his case for inclusion in the starting line-up with his brace against Wolfsburg and he could replace Jamie Gittens.

Problems

BVB have been susceptible at the back this season. 49 goals conceded puts Dortmund in ninth place in that category. The Black and Yellows only conceded more goals in a season twice in this millennium. Gregor Kobel has had to pick the ball out of his net in six games in the recent successful run. A lack of stability in defence is still evident. Even in the 4-0 win against Wolfsburg last weekend, Dortmund allowed VfL to have several chances. "We were really lucky in the first half that Wolfsburg didn't level at 1-1," admitted Niko Kovac. Under his predecessor Nuri Sahin, who BVB parted company with at the end of January this year, a large number of matches were not won despite being in control of the game. Dortmund lost 3-2 in the Hinrunde clash with the Werkself although the Black and Yellows had 70% possession and pass completion of 90%.

Performers

BVB again have outstanding players in attack this season. Borussia Dortmund (64) have scored the third highest number of goals after Bayern Munich (93) and Bayer 04 (68) and they have the best rate of taking chances (21%). More than two thirds of the goals have been scored by five players: Serhou Guirassy has netted 19 goals (7 assists) in his first season at BVB and is in second place in the top goalscorer's list alongside Bayer 04 striker Patrik Schick behind Harry Kane (24). Jamie Gittens and Maximilian Beier have scored eight goals each, Karim Adeyemi (6) and Julian Brandt (4) completing the successful striker quintet. The latter, like Pascal Groß, has already set up eight goals from open play. The duo share second place behind Werkself player Florian Wirtz who has ten assists. The fact the Black and Yellows are strong in transition is shown by their seven goals from counter-attacks – the third highest behind Eintracht Frankfurt (11) and Bayer 04 (8). Dortmund often feed centre forward Guirassy with crosses from their fast wingers. The Werkself should also be aware of an aerial threat: BVB are in third place with twelve headed goals.