How do Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund stack up ahead of 2026 restart?

Eintracht Frankfurt host Borussia Dortmund in Matchday 16’s curtain-raiser on Friday night to kick off 2026. Two of the Bundesliga’s in-form teams with contrasting playing styles clash in what promises to be an enticing encounter...

It's been a whirlwind season for Frankfurt, who started the campaign with three defeats in their opening six Bundesliga games. After back-to-back losses against Bayer Leverkusen and Union Berlin in September, Dino Toppmöller's charges were beaten 3-0 at home by Bayern Munich on Matchday 6.

However, that reverse against Vincent Kompany's side proved a turning point for the Eagles, who have lost just one of their nine league games since - an admittedly chastening 6-0 defeat against RB Leipzig on Matchday 13.

Dino Toppmöller's team have lost only one of their last nine league matches. - IMAGO/osnapix / Marcus Hirnschal

A force to be reckoned with at Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt have picked up more points in their last four home games (10) than any other side apart from Hoffenheim (12). Die Adler have recorded wins and clean sheets against St. Pauli, Mainz and Augsburg, while Michy Batshuayi's penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time salvaged a valuable point against Wolfsburg on Matchday 12.

Despite his team's fine run, the winter break was welcomed by Toppmöller following Eintracht's Matchday 15 draw against Hamburg. "Some of the lads were running on empty today," he said. "Now it's time to take a breather, then we'll start the new year with renewed energy and drive."

Watch: Rip-roaring restart for 2026

Bayern's closest challengers in the Bundesliga table, Dortmund come into the new year in fine form of their own, having lost only one of their last 23 league games stretching back to last season - a 2-1 defeat at the Allianz Arena back in mid-October.

They have won five and drawn three of their eight league games since, while their haul of 32 points after 15 matchdays is their best return in seven years. Following victories against the likes of high-flying Leverkusen and Hoffenheim, and in-form Borussia Mönchengladbach, Dortmund have seven more points than they did at this stage 12 months ago, by which time they had already suffered four defeats and were down in sixth spot.

"Overall, we've become much more stable," said sporting director Sebastian Kehl before the winter break. "We've lost only one Bundesliga game so far this season. Of course, we can play even better football, we can continue to develop, but we've taken a huge step forward."

Watch: Niko Kovač's BVB flip tactical switch

Friday's clash is the 105th meeting between the two clubs, with Dortmund registering 51 wins to Frankfurt's 32. Indeed, Die Schwarzgelben have enjoyed more wins against their Matchday 16 opponents than against any other Bundesliga club, averaging almost two goals per game against the Hesse outfit.

While Dortmund have triumphed in six of the duo's last eight Bundesliga encounters, it was Frankfurt who came out on top in their most recent meeting, running out deserved 2-0 winners on Matchday 18 of the 2024/25 campaign - BVB's final league match under former head coach Nuri Şahin and another Friday night affair.

That victory went some way to helping Frankfurt  qualify for the UEFA Champions League via the Bundesliga for the first time in their history, as Toppmöller's third-placed side finished above Dortmund for the first time since 2008.

Watch: Frankfurt celebrate third-place finish

Dortmund did gain a modicum of revenge in October, prevailing on penalties in the second round of this season's DFB Cup, but the 1-1 draw that preceded the shootout demonstrated just how evenly matched these two teams are. The sides' latest tussle is set to be every bit as enthralling.

After the departure of Hugo Ekitiké to Liverpool, Frankfurt's new-look attack is making waves in Germany's top flight. Summer arrival Jonathan Burkardt, who has bagged eight goals in only 10 appearances this term, will miss Friday's game with the calf injury he suffered back in November, but fellow new recruit Ritsu Dōan is set to play a crucial role. 

The Japan international has been magnificent on the right flank, catapulting the Eagles up the table with four goals and as many assists. Dōan also appears to be developing a happy knack of finding the net at important times, having scored the only goals in victories over Mainz and Augsburg.

Watch: The best of Ritsu Dōan

Frankfurt's 30 goals after 15 matchdays is bettered only by Bayern (55) and Leverkusen (33), while the Eagles' shot efficiency (+8.3), second only to Bayern, is superior to Dortmund's (+2.4).

With Burkardt sidelined, Ansgar Knauff will likely retain his place as their focal attacking point, although Toppmöller will hope that the recent signing of Elversberg's Younes Ebnoutalib, the current Bundesliga 2 top scorer, will alleviate the burden on his new teammates in the absence of Germany's top marksman this term.

Dortmund, meanwhile, are the sixth-highest scorers in the current campaign with 26 goals after 15 games. Star striker Serhou Guirassy, who plundered 21 top-flight goals last season, has found the net five times so far in 2025/26 - his last Bundesliga strike coming against Augsburg in October. Guirassy's teammates have stepped up to the plate, though, with Julian Brandt, Maximilian Beier and Karim Adeyemi all on four goals so far.

Watch: Guirassy's 2025/26 Bundesliga goals

There may be room for improvement in the final third, but Dortmund's defensive steeliness makes them extremely hard to beat. Indeed, only Bayern (11) have conceded fewer than the 12 strikes shipped by BVB heading into Matchday 16.

The return from injury of Emre Can and Nico Schlotterbeck, coupled with Waldemar Anton's fine form, has been a catalyst for BVB’s defensive resurgence. Swiss shot-stopper Gregor Kobel, who has kept eight clean sheets in the league already this season, is fast becoming one of the best custodians in the division - although the 28-year-old is set to miss Friday's encounter through illness.

Watch: The best of Nico Schlotterbeck

Dortmund's disciplined approach has been met with approval from the club's hierarchy, who regard it as a solid foundation to bring silverware back to the club.

"We have had a lot of controlled wins with mature, perhaps slightly pragmatic football," said managing director for sport Lars Ricken. "Niko deserves our faith. We want to build with him and improve the team further."

Emboldened by their newfound defensive solidity, Dortmund will be hoping to close the nine-point gap to Bayern on Friday, but Frankfurt - and their free-flowing attack - may have other ideas.

About the clubs

Borussia Dortmund

SIGNAL IDUNA PARK

Eintracht Frankfurt

Deutsche Bank Park