Serhou Guirassy and Andrej Kramaric: A Rivalry in Sinsheim

Sinsheim has become a strange kind of hunting ground for Serhou Guirassy. The BVB striker has scored in each of his last four away appearances there, and he left his mark again on Matchday 30 last season. His late strike in the 87th minute dragged Borussia Dortmund level at 1-1, a classic poacher’s goal that looked as if it might salvage a point.

Then Andrej Kramaric took over.

Twice the Croatian stepped up from the spot, twice he beat the goalkeeper – first in the 27th minute, then deep into stoppage time at 90+8. Two handball penalties, two nerveless finishes, and Hoffenheim had their first home win over the Black and Yellows since December 2019. A long wait, snapped in the most dramatic way.

Kramaric’s record against Dortmund borders on relentless. He has 11 goals in 18 Bundesliga meetings with BVB, a tally built on big moments: an away four-goal haul in June 2020 and that penalty double in Sinsheim. Only against Hertha BSC has he scored more often in the league. When Dortmund appear on the fixture list, Kramaric usually appears on the scoresheet.

Dortmund, for their part, rarely leave Sinsheim empty-handed in front of goal. They have scored in each of their last 14 visits, a run that underlines their attacking power. The problem lies at the other end. Across 18 away games there, they have managed a clean sheet only twice. For all the talent in yellow and black, this fixture has a habit of turning into a shootout.

The numbers between these two clubs tell the story of a rivalry that crackles. Across 36 Bundesliga clashes, there have already been nine red cards. Tempers flare, tackles bite, and control often feels temporary. BVB have the better overall record – 16 wins, 11 draws, nine defeats – yet the goal difference is razor-thin at 58:52. Even their “biggest wins” are modest: three separate 3-1 victories, nothing more emphatic than that.

This is not a pairing built on one-sided dominance. It’s built on tension.

The next chapter might be decided from long range. On the opening matchday of the new season, only SC Freiburg attempted more shots from outside the box (11) than Borussia Dortmund (nine) and Hoffenheim (seven). Both sides clearly trust their shooters.

Dortmund’s efforts against HSV failed to produce a breakthrough, all those strikes from distance swallowed up or flying wide. Hoffenheim, though, found their moment. In Cologne, Adam Daghim marked his first Bundesliga appearance with a stunning long-range effort to make it 1-0, a strike that lit up the game even as the night ended in a 3-2 defeat to FC.

Guirassy’s streak, Kramaric’s habit of punishing Dortmund, the history of red cards, the thin margin in goals, and a growing taste for shots from outside the box – all of it feeds into a familiar feeling. When these two meet, something usually gives. The only real question is who lands the decisive blow this time, from how far out, and in which colour they’ll be celebrating in Sinsheim.