Borussia Dortmund vs FC Köln: Predictions, Betting odds, Lineups, Preview

Explore Bwin's detailed preview for Borussia Dortmund vs FC Köln in the Bundesliga. Stats, odds, predictions, and lineups for the 17:30 BST match.

• Fixture: Borussia Dortmund vs FC Köln

• Date: Saturday, 25 October 2025

• Kick-off: 17:30 BST

• Venue: Signal Iduna Park

• Event Head to Head

Match Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 3-1 FC Köln

Borussia Dortmund, despite a recent loss to Bayern München, have shown resilience with three wins in their last five matches. Their ability to secure victories on the road against Mainz and Heidenheim suggests a potent attacking force that could exploit Köln's defensive vulnerabilities, as seen in their recent high-scoring draws.

Dortmund's midfield, led by Groß and Sabitzer, will likely control the tempo, pushing forward to support the dynamic attacking trio of Nmecha, Guirassy, and Adeyemi.

FC Köln, on the other hand, have struggled for consistency, with only one win in their last five games. Their recent performances indicate a team capable of scoring but prone to conceding, as evidenced by their 3-3 draw against Wolfsburg.

Köln's midfield, featuring Jóhannesson and Martel, will need to be disciplined to counter Dortmund's aggressive play, but their defence, led by Schmied, may struggle to contain Dortmund's potent attack.

Borussia Dortmund's recent form has been solid, with three wins in their last five matches, showcasing their ability to bounce back from setbacks. The loss to Bayern München was a minor blip, as they demonstrated resilience and tactical adaptability in subsequent games.

Their victories against Mainz and Heidenheim on the road highlight a robust attacking strategy that could be crucial against Köln. Dortmund's midfield and attacking options, including Groß, Sabitzer, and Adeyemi, are likely to dominate possession and create scoring opportunities.

Recent Bundesliga Results:

• Loss: 1-2 vs FC Bayern München (A)

• Draw: 1-1 vs RB Leipzig (H)

• Win: 2-0 vs FSV Mainz 05 (A)

• Win: 1-0 vs VfL Wolfsburg (H)

• Win: 2-0 vs Heidenheim (A)

FC Köln's recent form has been inconsistent, with only one win in their last five matches. Their ability to score, as seen in the 3-3 draw against Wolfsburg, suggests an offensive threat, but their defence has been leaky, conceding multiple goals in several games.

Köln will need to tighten their backline, led by Schmied, to stand a chance against Dortmund's potent attack. The midfield duo of Jóhannesson and Martel will be pivotal in disrupting Dortmund's rhythm and supporting the attack.

Recent Bundesliga Results:

• Draw: 1-1 vs FC Augsburg (H)
• Win: 1-0 vs TSG Hoffenheim (A)
• Loss: 1-2 vs VfB Stuttgart (H)
• Loss: 1-3 vs RB Leipzig (A)
• Draw: 3-3 vs VfL Wolfsburg (A)

Borussia Dortmund have dominated recent encounters with FC Köln, winning three of their last five meetings. The most recent clash saw Dortmund triumph 4-0 away from home, while they also secured a 1-0 victory in their last home game against Köln.

However, Köln have shown they can compete, with a 3-2 win and a 1-1 draw in previous matches, indicating potential for an upset despite Dortmund's recent superiority.

Recent Bundesliga Results:

• FC Köln 0-4 Borussia Dortmund (20 Jan 2024)

• Borussia Dortmund 1-0 FC Köln (19 Aug 2023)

• Borussia Dortmund 6-1 FC Köln (18 Mar 2023)

• FC Köln 3-2 Borussia Dortmund (01 Oct 2022)

• FC Köln 1-1 Borussia Dortmund (20 Mar 2022)

• Aarón Anselmino (Muscle) - Doubt
• Julien Duranville (Shoulder) - Doubt
• Emre Can (Groin) - Doubt

• Rav Van Den Berg (Schoulder) - Out
• Luca Kilian (Knee) - Out

• Predicted lineup: Kobel (GK), Anton (DF), Schlotterbeck (DF), Süle (DF), Ryerson (MF), Groß (MF), Sabitzer (MF), Svensson (MF), Nmecha (AT), Adeyemi (AT), Guirassy (AT)

Borussia Dortmund's predicted lineup emphasises a strong defensive core with Anton, Schlotterbeck, and Süle. At the same time, Groß and Sabitzer in midfield are expected to control the game's tempo and feed the attacking trio of Nmecha, Guirassy, and Adeyemi.

• Predicted lineup: Schwäbe (GK), Schmied (DF), Heintz (DF), Hübers (DF), Sebulonsen (MF), Martel (MF), Jóhannesson (MF), Lund (MF), Waldschmidt (AT), Kaminski (AT), Thielmann (AT)

FC Köln's predicted lineup focuses on a solid defensive trio of Schmied, Heintz, and Hübers, with Jóhannesson and Martel in midfield tasked with breaking up Dortmund's play and supporting the attacking efforts of Waldschmidt, Kaminski, and Thielmann.

• Adeyemi vs Schmied: This duel will see Dortmund's dynamic forward Adeyemi test the defensive resilience of Köln's Schmied.
• Sabitzer vs Jóhannesson: Sabitzer’s midfield prowess will be crucial in outmanoeuvring Jóhannesson, who aims to disrupt Dortmund's rhythm.
• Groß (Borussia Dortmund): Groß's ability to control the midfield and distribute the ball effectively makes him a linchpin for Dortmund's strategy.
• Thielmann (FC Köln): Thielmann's creativity and goal-scoring threat from the forward position are vital for Köln's chances of upsetting Dortmund.

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