Bayern Munich are the favourites to win the Bundesliga title this season, but several sides are hoping to at least prevent a procession. Among the potential candidates for the prize are Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.

This is a meeting between second and third in the division, with both sides having started the campaign well. Who wins this one?

• Borussia Dortmund to win and over 2.5 goals – 11/10 with BetMGM
• First goal to be scored between minutes 31 and 40 – 19/4 with 247bet
• Karim Adeyemi to score any time – 39/20 with Sky Bet

Borussia Dortmund vs RB Leipzig odds

Find the latest Borussia Dortmund vs RB Leipzig betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.

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Borussia Dortmund vs RB Leipzig predictions

Right now it is difficult to see any team challenging Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title this season. Yet it would be a mistake to assume the outcome is inevitable.

Sure, Bayern have begun the campaign in blistering form. They have won each of their first five games and boast a remarkable goal difference of +19.

It is not just the Bundesliga which they top. Bayern are also at the summit of the standings in the league phase of the Champions League. They might even be the best team in Europe right now.

Yet there is still a long way to go. Even a side as strong as Bayern will suffer a setback sooner rather than later. 

A positive start to a season does not mean a team will necessarily maintain that form. Take the 2024/25 Premier League. Manchester City, the defending champions, were top after losing none of their first nine games. Then they collapsed and ended up finishing fourth.

Of course, Bayern’s structural and financial advantages mean it is almost impossible to imagine them finishing that low in Germany. But no one anticipated City’s dip in form last term either. The key for Bayern’s potential rivals for the throne is to be on hand in case an opportunity presents itself.

And so to Borussia Dortmund vs RB Leipzig. It is still early days, but at the time of writing these two teams appear to be the likeliest challengers to Bayern at the top end of the division.

Bayer Leverkusen may yet reassert themselves, but they are still playing catch-up after a poor start under Erik ten Hag, who was hastily sacked and replaced by Kasper Hjulmand. The absence of a pre-season for the current coach will count against him.

Dortmund rank second in the division heading into the weekend, with Leipzig in third. Dortmund have claimed 13 points from the first 15 on offer, while Leipzig have collected 12. For now at least, both sides are within touching distance of Bayern.

Dortmund have been the more impressive team overall. They have won four in a row in the Bundesliga and thumped Athletic Club 4-1 in the Champions League in midweek.

Leipzig are absent from European competition this season, and that seems to be suiting them. Ole Werner’s crew can make a game of this.

Borussia Dortmund vs RB Leipzig betting tips

Can Borussia Dortmund continue to keep pace with Bayern Munich by beating RB Leipzig?

Dortmund should edge it

RB Leipzig have had a full week to prepare for this match, whereas Borussia Dortmund had that Champions League match on Wednesday.

Leipzig will arrive at Signal Iduna Park in a confident mood having won four games on the bounce since going down 6-0 to Bayern Munich on the opening night.

The scale of that defeat could have been tough to recover from, but Leipzig have righted the wrong already.

Having said all that, they do not quite look in Dortmund’s class overall. Three of their four wins have come against teams in the bottom half.

And while Leipzig rank second behind Bayern for xG created, only seven sides have given up more xG against. 

We should see an entertaining encounter on Saturday, but it is hard to look past a home win.

Tip Borussia Dortmund to win and over 2.5 goals at 11/10 with BetMGM

Dortmund like this 10-minute slot

RB Leipzig will have to strike the right balance at Signal Iduna Park.

Although Werner’s men will need to punch the other way as the game wears on, it would be a mistake for Leipzig to be too open in the first few minutes.

Borussia Dortmund will have more of the ball in the early exchanges and it will be up to them to break the visitors down.

They will not necessarily do so in the first half-hour, but Dortmund have had success between the 31st and 40th minutes.

BVB have scored three times in that slot already this term and they could do so again here.

Go for the first goal to be scored between minutes 31 and 40 at 19/4 with 247bet

Adeyemi can find net

Karim Adeyemi has made a bright start to 2025/26, scoring three goals in his first seven appearances.

One of those efforts came in the 2-0 victory over Mainz last time out, as Borussia Dortmund maintained a two-point gap to Bayern Munich.

“I talk to Karim the most because I’m very convinced of his qualities. He has so much in him,” BVB boss Niko Kovac said of the 23-year-old earlier this week.

Adeyemi will start on the right again when RB Leipzig come to town. At the odds available, it is well worth a punt on him finding the back of the net.

Select Karim Adeyemi to score any time at 39/20 with Sky Bet

Borussia Dortmund vs RB Leipzig predicted lineups

• Borussia Dortmund expected lineup: Kobel; Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Couto, Sabitzer, Nmecha, Svensson; Adeyemi, Brandt; Guirassy.
• RB Leipzig expected lineup: Gulacsi; Baku, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; Ouedraogo, Seiwald, Baumgartner; Bakayoko, Romulo, Diomande.

Where to watch Borussia Dortmund vs RB Leipzig

• Location: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany.
• Date and time: Saturday 4th October, 2.30pm.
• How to watch: Not being shown live in the UK.

More Bundesliga predictions

We have plenty more Bundesliga predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.

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