On January 17, 2024, Borussia Dortmund faces off against Eintracht Frankfurt at 20:30, marking the kickoff of the Rückrunde (second half) of the Bundesliga season. This fixture is particularly significant as both teams are vying for key positions to secure entry to the prestigious UEFA Champions League. Dortmund is currently on the back foot, having lost their first two games of the new year, and are under immense pressure to reverse their fortunes.
One of the major talking points leading up to the match is the anticipated transfer of Eintracht Frankfurt's forward, Omar Marmoush, to Manchester City. Marmoush, who has become indispensable to Frankfurt, will be absent from the lineup due to the impending transfer, which is reported to involve a staggering fee of roughly 70 million euros. According to reports, negotiations between Frankfurt and Manchester City are nearing finalization, with clauses potentially eleveting the total to 80 million euros.
"Eintracht Frankfurt befindet sich aktuell in Gesprächen mit einem anderen Klub bezüglich eines Transfers von Omar Marmoush. Daher ist der Spieler heute nicht Teil des Kaders," noted Eintracht Frankfurt's official communications, confirming Marmoush's absence from the match. This news has been met with disappointment among fans, who had hoped to see Marmoush on the pitch against Dortmund.
With Marmoush off the field, Frankfurt will have to find ways to cope without their leading goal scorer. So far this season, Marmoush has netted 15 goals and provided 10 assists across 17 Bundesliga games. His last appearance was during Frankfurt's decisive 4:1 victory over SC Freiburg, leaving fans with hopes of his participation against Dortmund dashed. Coach Dino Topmüller now faces the challenge of reshuffling his squad to fill the significant gap left by the departing forward.
On the other side, Borussia Dortmund is struggling with its own issues, including poor performances leading to disappointing results. Coach Nuri Sahin's team has yet to recover from two losses, which included a demoralizing 4:2 defeat against Holstein Kiel. Sahin has expressed concerns over the team's mentality and performance, hinting at potentially significant roster changes as the season progresses.
According to Sky, there are rumblings of possible exits for several players at Dortmund, including captain Emre Can, along with Marcel Sabitzer, Niklas Süle, Giovanni Reyna, and Karim Adeyemi. With the need for rejuvenation within the squad, Dortmund must assess how to revitalize its performance amid growing speculation about player turnover.
Fans eager to catch the action can watch the match live on DAZN, which holds exclusive broadcast rights for Bundesliga Friday matches. The coverage starts at 19:30, with host Laura Wontorra leading with expert analysis from Sebastian Kneißl. Match commentary will be provided by Jan Platte as kickoff approaches at 20:30. For viewers, the match will be available on the DAZN website and app, as well as on DAZN 1, one of its linear channels.
The stakes are sky-high as both teams take to the field, driven not just by the need for victory but by the looming shadow of player transfers and underwhelming seasons. Borussia Dortmund, seeking to halt their recent losing streak, hopes to capitalize on Frankfurt’s absence of Marmoush, making this match one to watch as it could prove pivotal for their quest for Champions League qualification.