Pre-Match Report
“We want to give the fans a win” – first-half finish against Werder
The scenario
After 16 matchdays, BVB have collected 33 points and are currently second in the league. They took one point from Friday's opening match of the year at Eintracht Frankfurt: Frankfurt and Dortmund treated spectators to a true spectacle with a 3-3 draw, several changes of lead and late goals. “We controlled the opponent, we controlled the ball and we created a lot of good chances,” says BVB coach Niko Kovac, looking back. “That's what I would like to see again tomorrow of course. If we can play like that at home, I am convinced that we could even score a few more goals.”
Personnel matters
Jobe Bellingham returns to the squad after his red card suspension. “Jobe is a great guy“, says Kovac. “Whether he's suspended or not, he always gives 100%. He used the time he wasn't allowed to play very intensively.” Following his 2-0 defeat with Algeria against Nigeria in the quarter finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, Ramy Bensebaini has returned to Dortmund. Whether he will be back in the squad straight away will be decided on matchday. Aaron Anselmino (recovering from a muscle injury) is still not participating in team training.
The opposition
Werder Bremen have not played an official match in the new year yet: their match against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim last Saturday at the Weser Stadium had to be postponed due to weather conditions. Whether the cancellation of this match is an advantage or a disadvantage for Bremen, will become clear after the game, according to Kovac. “I do believe that it's definitely not a disadvantage to already have a game under your belt and therefore a bit of rhythm. On the other hand, it can also be an advantage if you haven't played at the weekend.” Werder are a “good Bundesliga team, a strong side that want the ball and play football. We have to try to make sure the ball is in our possession more often than in the opponent's.”
With one game less played, Werder sit in 12th place in the table. They have collected 17 points from four wins, five draws and six defeats. Their last win was early November (2-1 against Wolfsburg). The only friendly they played during the winter break was a 0-0 draw away at FC St. Pauli.
First-half finish
A win against Werder Bremen would see Borussia Dortmund finish the first half of the season with 36 points, securing them second place. It would be Dortmund's best first-half record since the 2018/19 season, when BVB had 42 points after 17 matchdays. At the same time, it would mean a huge improvement compared to last year, when 25 points were only enough for tenth place.
“We're playing at home and we want to give our fans a win. I aim to decide games like these as early on as possible,” said Kovac.
Christina Reinke