Title contenders Borussia Dortmund will be looking for their second win of the new season when they hit the road to square up against Werder Bremen.
Werder Bremen did not really make the best of starts to the new season as they played out a draw in their opening encounter. They will be eager to register their first win of the season and with a game against giants Borussia Dortmund coming up, they have the perfect opportunity to get things going in the right direction.
The home team started the season with an intense fixture against FC Augsburg, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Both teams created equal chances, and neither were dominant enough to claim all three points.
While they did avoid defeat, it was not really an ideal start to the season. And with a game against Borussia Dortmund at home, Werder Bremen have an opportunity to secure a famous win against one of the favourites for the league title.
Dortmund did reach the UEFA Champions League final last season, but their Bundesliga form wasn’t up there. However, they have started the new campaign with a 2-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt. It was a dominant performance from the team in black and yellow as they had the majority of the ball and made the best use of it.
After having started the season in the best possible way, a tough away trip to Werder Bremen awaits Dortmund. While the going could get difficult, Nuri Sahin’s team are favourites to make it two wins in a row. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Werder Bremen
The home team will be without the services of Jens Stage, Milos Veljkovic, Naby Keïta, and Amos Pieper. Apart from the quartet, Ole Werner has a full squad to choose from against Borussia Dortmund this weekend.
Werder Bremen are expected to go ahead with the 3-4-2-1 formation, where Michael Zetterer will be in goal. The back three will be made up of Niklas Stark, Marco Friedl, and Anthony Jung. The trio will look to keep things tight at the back, and they will receive support from Mitchell Weiser and Felix Agu who will feature as the wing-backs.
In the centre of the park, Senne Lynen will take charge alongside Skelly Alvero. The duo will look to ensure Borussia Dortmund do not end up dominating the proceedings. Romano Schmid and Marvin Ducksch will feature as the two attacking midfielders just in behind their number nine, Keke Topp.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Zetterer; Veljkovic, Friedl, Jung; Weiser, Lynen, Alvero, Agu; Schmid, Ducksch; Topp
Borussia Dortmund
The visitors will be without the services of Kjell Wätjen, who is out injured. Meanwhile, summer signing Serhou Guirassy also remains on the sidelines with knee issues. But, apart from the duo, Nuri Sahin has the full squad to choose from.
Borussia Dortmund will go ahead with the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Gregor Kobel will be in goal. Julian Ryerson will take charge as the right-back, with Nico Schlotterbeck featuring on the opposite flank. In the heart of the defence, summer signing Waldemar Anton will pair up with the experienced Niklas Sule.
Skipper Emre Can and Pascal Gross are expected to form the double pivot in the centre of the park. They will look to control the tempo of the game as well as shield the backline. Marcel Sabitzer and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens will feature on the flanks for the German giants. Julian Brandt will feature as the number ten, with Maximilian Beier leading the line for the away team.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Anton, Sule, Schlotterbeck; Can, Gross; Sabitzer, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Beier
Key Stats
- Borrusia Dortmund have won 29 out of the 53 matches played between the two teams, with Werder Bremen winning 15 of those outings.
- The Black and Yellows are all set to face Bremen for the 111th time in the Bundesliga. They haven’t played any other opponent more often.
- Werder Bremen have now failed to win the opening game of the Bundesliga season for the 10th consecutive year. They have suffered defeat on six of those occasions.
- The home team have been unbeaten in their last six German top-flight games which is their longest run in the competition since their promotion in 2022.
- After a run of only one defeat in their 15 away Bundesliga games last season, Dortmund have lost each of their last two away games.
Player to Watch
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens
The 20-year-old English winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens has made an exceptional start to the new season. He came off the bench for a 30-minute cameo in their first outing against Eintracht Frankfurt and helped his team secure all three points by scoring a brace in their 2-0 win.
The youngster is expected to start in this fixture after doing wonders last time out. As a result, all eyes will be on the former Manchester City prospect, who will be eager to continue his goalscoring form.
Prediction
Werder Bremen 0-2 Borussia Dortmund
The home team have been unbeaten in their last six Bundesliga games. But that streak might end against Borussia Dortmund who have started the new season with a dominating win against Frankfurt. The visitors will have the upper hand as they have a much better squad, and The Hard Tackle feels the team in black and yellow will register another 2-0 win here.
