Free Borussia Dortmund v Hertha Berlin betting tips and match preview

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Borussia Dortmund v Hertha Berlin in the German Bundesliga.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 5.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Jadon Sancho to score any time
2pts 10-11 Betfair, Paddy Power

Match preview

Jadon Sancho celebrated his return to the Borussia Dortmund starting line-up with a hat-trick in the 6-1 pummeling of Paderborn last weekend and the England international may be required to play another starring role against improving Hertha Berlin.

Dortmund’s title hopes were dashed by Bayern Munich after the 1-0 reverse in their crunch clash at Signal Iduna Park, but their performance in Paderborn was the perfect response to such a damaging defeat.

With star striker Erling Haaland sidelined, Sancho was handed a first start in four games and any fears doubting his fitness were quashed after he netted three times in a devastating second-half display.

Haaland, who limped off in the loss to Bayern, is a major doubt once more for the visit of Hertha and that could add extra importance to the role of Sancho, who will carry the brunt of Dortmund’s attacking threat.

Sancho’s heroics at strugglers Paderborn took his goal tally in the Bundesliga to 17 from 22 starts and he could be fresher than most as teams embark on a fifth match in just a 21-day period.

The winger has netted in eight of Dortmund’s 14 home league games this term and has opened the scoring in two of their last five outings at Signal Iduna Park in wins over Freiburg and Union Berlin.

Sancho also grabbed the opener in a 2-1 win in Berlin's reverse fixture and with Leipzig, Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen hot on their heels in the race for second, Dortmund can’t afford any slip-ups.

Dortmund have scored 45 times in 14 games on home soil, scoring at least three times on ten occasions, and should be confident of bolstering that tally despite the visitors’ recent improvement.

Hertha have picked up ten points from a possible 12 since the appointment of manager Bruno Labbadia and although they should offer stiffer competition than Padeborn, this is undoubtedly their toughest task under his stewardship.

Hertha shared the spoils in a four-goal thriller at Leipzig on their last road trip but played the final 30 minutes with an extra man and required a late penalty from Krzysztof Piatek to salvage a point.

Matheus Cunha has been the shining light for Hertha with four goals in his last five games but the Brazilian winger missed out during last weekend's 2-0 win over Augsburg and is a doubt for this showdown.

Team news

Dortmund
Erling Haaland is unlikely to figure after limping off in the defeat to Bayern. Midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud has been ruled out for the season and joins Marco Reus, Dan-Axel Zagadou and Nico Schulz on the sidelines. Mats Hummels is suspended.

Hertha Berlin
Star winger Matheus Cunha is a doubt with concussion, as is left-back Marvin Plattenhardt. Salomon Kalou and Santiago Ascacibar are absentees.