On Saturday, February 22, 2025, Borussia Dortmund will face off against Union Berlin at the iconic Signal Iduna Park for a highly anticipated Bundesliga match set to begin at 18:30 CET. This clash is particularly important for both teams, as they have been exhibiting inconsistent performances this season.
Dortmund enters the match on the heels of disappointing form, having lost their last two Bundesliga matches under new head coach Niko Kovač. They sit at 11th place on the table with just 29 points—eight points adrift of the European qualification spots. Kovač, who took over after Nuri Şahin's departure, is still searching for his first league victory as Dortmund manager. The BVB recently secured advancement to the Champions League round of 16 with a goalless draw against Sporting Lisbon but are clearly in dire need of points to revive their Bundesliga campaign.
Union Berlin, on the other hand, managed to kickstart their season slightly. After struggling for form, they found some breathing room, currently sitting two places above Dortmund at 13th position with 24 points. Their last outing was less than stellar, losing 2-1 to Borussia Mönchengladbach, but they hold a comfortable ten-point buffer above the relegation zone. Coach Steffen Baumgart’s side is still reflecting on their earlier meeting against Dortmund this season when they triumphed 2-1 through disciplined defense and opportunistic offense.
Team news indicates Dortmund will have only one confirmed absence, with midfielder Felix Nmecha sidelined until late March. This means Marcel Sabitzer and Pascal Groß are primed to fill the midfield positions. Emre Can has been utilized as a center-back under Kovač, and he is expected to team up with Nico Schlotterbeck again on defense. Up front, Serhou Guirassy is likely to lead the attack, supported by Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Karim Adeyemi on the flanks.
On the other side, Union Berlin will miss midfielder Aljoscha Kemlein, prompting potential starts for Janik Haberer and Rani Khedira to solidify the midfield. Defensively, Josip Juranović, Danilho Doekhi, Diogo Leite, and Tom Rothe are expected to start due to various injuries sidelining main players. Baumgart may opt for attacking talents like Woo-Yeong Jeong and Andrej Ilić to provide much-needed goals.
The match will be broadcast live on Sky, with coverage starting at 17:30, providing build-up reports leading up to the kick-off. Sky subscribers can catch the action on Sky Sport Bundesliga 1 or stream it live via Sky Go and the WOW platform. Sky also holds exclusive rights for Bundesliga matches, which means fans will need subscriptions to witness this hotly contested fixture.
For those unable to catch the match live, highlights will be available on skysport.de shortly after the game concludes, featuring key moments and goals. Various platforms will provide live commentary and updates from the match for real-time engagement.
This match poses various questions: Can Niko Kovač secure his first Bundesliga win with Dortmund, or will Union Berlin extend their lead above the relegation battle? With stakes high on both sides, fans can expect nothing short of drama at the Signal Iduna Park.