Dortmund aim to seal runners-up spot in final home Bundesliga fixture
Despite a depleted squad due to injury and retirement, the club looks to end the 2025-26 season on a high with a victory that would mathematically guarantee Champions League runners-up status.
Borussia Dortmund will host Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday, 8 May, for Matchday 33 of the 2025-26 Bundesliga season. This fixture marks the final home game of the campaign for the hosts, who are currently sitting second in the table with 67 points. Having already secured qualification for the Champions League, the club's objective is to finish as league runners-up by picking up all three points in this concluding home match.
The match kicks off at 7:30pm BST and is available for free viewing in the UK via BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app, and the official Bundesliga application. While the stakes for European qualification have been resolved, the path to securing the second spot remains contingent on the result of this encounter, with a victory mathematically guaranteeing the runners-up position with one game remaining in the season.
Team selection presents significant challenges for the coaching staff ahead of the fixture. Key absences include Emre Can, who is unavailable due to a long-term ACL injury, and Ramy Bensebaini, who is expected to miss the remainder of the season following a serious ankle problem. Additionally, attacking option Karim Adeyemi is ruled out, further thinning the squad available for selection.
Centre-back Niklas Süle, who has confirmed his retirement at the end of the season at the age of 30, is likely to miss the match. His status is conditional, however, as he will be assessed for fitness before kickoff. Felix Nmecha also remains doubtful as he continues his recovery to full fitness, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the defensive and midfield units.
In the predicted starting XI, Maximilian Beier is pushing for a place in the starting lineup ahead of Julian Brandt and Samuele Inacio, who featured in the previous match. This shift comes after Dortmund suffered three defeats in their last four outings, including a 1-0 loss to Borussia Mönchengladbach where the team struggled to create chances in attack.
Despite the recent shaky form and the depleted roster, the club remains focused on ending the campaign on a positive note. A win in this fixture would not only secure the runners-up spot but also provide a fitting conclusion to the 2025-26 campaign for the Black-and-Yellows.
