The Japan Times - Dortmund on lookout for leaders as familiar cracks emerge

Dortmund, who host Wolfsburg on Sunday, have already shown a worrying tendency of fading late this season.

Leading 3-1 in their season opener at St Pauli with five minutes remaining, Dortmund conceded twice in three minutes and lost rookie centre-back Filippo Mane to a red card.

In the Champions League on Tuesday, Dortmund led three times away at Juventus -- including 4-2 in the third minute of stoppage time -- before allowing the Italians to snatch a 4-4 draw with two late goals.

Dortmund's lack of leadership was also evident when striker Serhou Guirassy and defender Ramy Bensebaini openly tussled when both wanted to take a late penalty, forcing coach Niko Kovac to intervene.

Many of the same criticisms have been levelled at Dortmund in recent seasons: a team with talent and promise undermined by a lack of maturity.

Dortmund were united in identifying the root of the problem in the aftermath of Tuesday's game.

Sporting director Sebastian Kehl said his side were "a bit naive in the last minutes," adding "to give away a sure victory right at the end is a bitter result."

Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel told reporters: "We need to finish the game cooly and with composure -- we have to play more maturely."

If Dortmund are to respond, there is probably no better opponent than their bunnies, Wolfsburg, a team they have had the better of for a decade.

Dortmund have a remarkable recent record against the Wolves, particularly at home, where they have not lost since 2012.

In their past four home games against Wolfsburg, Dortmund have won 4-0, 1-0, 6-0 and 6-1.

Wolfsburg's hopes of overturning the recent record could be boosted by the likely debut of Christian Eriksen.

The 33-year-old former Tottenham and Manchester United midfielder said Thursday he was "fit and ready," to play on Sunday.

"If you ask me, then yes. The coach picks the team and decides who's ready for the game -- but I'm all set."

One to watch: Luis Diaz (Bayern Munich)

Lost amid Harry Kane's incredible run and Nicolas Jackson's drawn-out transfer saga has been the form of another one of Bayern Munich's former Premier League stars: Luis Diaz.

Diaz has slotted in perfectly on Bayern's left wing since arriving from Liverpool, scoring three goals and setting up two more in just three Bundesliga matches.

After Bayern's 3-1 win over Chelsea on Wednesday, the 28-year-old Colombian revealed he held talks with Barcelona in the summer, but made "an objective decision about my future" to move to Munich.

"I'm very happy with my decision to join this great club. There were talks, which is normal in the transfer market, but I made the decision to come here and now I'll try my best."

Key stats

2 - Just three matchdays in, two coaches have already been sacked: Bayer Leverkusen's Erik ten Hag and Borussia Moenchengladbach's Gerardo Seoane. The two sides face off on Sunday.

36 - Since last losing to Wolfsburg at home in 2012, Dortmund have won 10 and drawn two against the Wolves, scoring 36 goals and conceding just five.

0 - Heidenheim are the only side yet to claim a point this season. They play away at fellow strugglers Hamburg on Saturday.

Fixtures (1330 GMT unless stated)

Friday

Stuttgart v St Pauli (1830)

Saturday

Augsburg v Mainz, Hoffenheim v Bayern Munich, Hamburg v Heidenheim, Werder Bremen v Freiburg, RB Leipzig v Cologne (1630)

Sunday

Eintracht Frankfurt v Union Berlin, Bayer Leverkusen v Borussia Moenchengladbach (1530), Borussia Dortmund v Wolfsburg (1730)

T.Ikeda--JT