Borussia Dortmund vs Werder Bremen: Preview and Team Updates
Borussia Dortmund Hosts Werder Bremen After International Break
On Friday, 9th October, Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund will welcome Werder Bremen to Signal Iduna Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30pm BST. Manager Niko Kovač’s side aims to keep their impressive streak alive despite injury setbacks.
Borussia Dortmund Team News
Dortmund faces a tough defensive situation heading into the match. Midfielder Emre Can remains out with a long-term ACL injury, and young talent Filippo Mane is sidelined due to a muscle tear. The attacking lineup also suffers from absences, with Giannis Konstantelias and Justin Lerma injured.
The main concerns lie in defense: full-backs Julian Ryerson and Daniel Svensson are doubtful after injuries sustained on international duty. Centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck is set for a late fitness test after a training injury while with Germany. If he passes, he is expected to lead the back three along with Waldemar Anton and teenager Joane Gadou, in front of goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
In midfield, Felix Nmecha and Joey Veerman should control the center, while Ethan Nwaneri and Fabio Silva support top striker Serhou Guirassy.
Werder Bremen Team News
Werder Bremen struggles with a bigger injury list, missing eight key players. Their midfield is depleted as Jens Stage, Senne Lynen, and Skelly Alvero are ruled out. Defensively, left-backs Moussa N’Diaye and Felix Agu are sidelined, pushing Olivier Deman into a crucial defensive role.
The attack suffers too, with strikers Justin Njinmah, Keke Topp, and Salim Musah unavailable. Goalkeeper Karl Hein has recovered from an international duty scare and will start. The visitors get a boost from the return of former Dortmund forward Niclas Füllkrug, back on loan from West Ham and in good form. He leads the line alongside Marco Grüll and Eren Dinkci.
Current Form
- Borussia Dortmund sits top of the Bundesliga, unbeaten with six straight wins in all competitions. Their last league outing before the break was a narrow 1-0 victory at VfB Stuttgart. They have conceded only twice in four matches while scoring nine goals, all from open play.
- Werder Bremen recovered well after a 4-1 loss to Freiburg on opening day, gaining seven points from the last nine available. Recent results include a 3-2 home win over Augsburg, a 3-3 draw with RB Leipzig, and a 1-1 away draw against Köln. They currently occupy eighth place, their best start since 2022.
Predicted Starting Lineups
- Borussia Dortmund: Kobel; Anton, Schlotterbeck, Gadou; Svensson, Nmecha, Veerman, Beier; Nwaneri, Silva; Guirassy
- Werder Bremen: Hein; Arthur, Friedl, Pieper, Deman; Regeer, Reis; Dinkci, Chuki, Grull; Füllkrug
Viewing Information
The match between Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen will be broadcast free-to-air in the UK.
