Pre-Match Report
UEFA Champions League: Five Changes to the Lineup
Wednesday, October 14, 2026: Matchday!
Here's what's on the agenda today:
- Meeting
- Activation
- Departure
- FK Bodø/Glimt vs. Borussia Dortmund
- Press conference
+++ Kovac Rotates +++
Five players start against Bodø: Samuele Inacio, Fabio Silva, Konstantinos Karetsas, Ramy Bensebaini and Joey Veerman. They replace Nico Schlotterbeck, who is being rested for workload management, along with Felix Nmecha, Marcel Sabitzer, Ethan Nwaneri and Serhou Guirassy, who will begin on the bench.
BVB: Kobel, Inacio, Silva, Karetsas, Anton, Beier, Bensebaini, Veerman, Bellingham, Gadou, Svensson
+++ Where the match is played +++
A football stage north of the Arctic Circle: the Aspmyra Stadium in the coastal city of Bodø seats 8,270 spectators. Around 400 tickets went to BVB fans. "Aspmyra" translates to "aspen moor." The name combines "asp" (aspen) and "myra" (moor or swamp) and refers to the site on which the stadium was built. It opened in 1966. It originally had a running track, but was later converted into a pure football stadium. Today, its compact design and the closeness of the fans to the action define the stadium's character. The pitch is artificial turf, which allows matches to be played even in the harsh climate of northern Norway.
+++ Impressions from the Arctic Circle +++
Bodø lies on the coast of northern Norway, just north of the Arctic Circle, and is the capital of the county of Nordland. The city has around 43,000 residents and is an important economic, cultural, and transport hub for the region. It is known for its dramatic coastal scenery, the midnight sun in summer, the northern lights in winter, and the nearby Saltstraumen, one of the strongest tidal currents in the world..
+++ Referees from Switzerland +++
The referee is Urs Schnyder. He is assisted by Marco Zürcher and Benjamin Zürcher. The fourth official is Sven Wolfensberger. Fedayi San serves as the video assistant referee.
+++ U19 takes the lead +++
The black-and-yellow U19 has already done its job: in the second matchday of the UEFA Youth League, also at the Aspmyra Stadium, they beat Bodø/Glimt's youth side 5-0. With this convincing 5-0 win, the team keeps its chances of qualifying for the round of 32 alive. Bjarki Gardarsson scored a brace, and Justin Hoy and Luke Fahrenhorst (both from the penalty spot) and Tim Degener also scored for a strong-performing BVB.
+++ Activation at the hotel +++
Maxi Beier gazes out over the sea, which lies directly in front of the hotel. It's cold and windy outside, but inside the temperature is rising. On Wednesday morning, the BVB professionals are preparing for the evening match against Bodø/Glimt. As usual, football tennis is played with full commitment, while the other group does stretching exercises.
+++ Kits in black and yellow +++
Both clubs' colors are black and yellow. Since the home team has opted for an all-yellow kit, Borussia Dortmund will play in black: shirts, shorts, and socks.
+++ God morgen fra Norge! +++
Today the ball rolls! Before the Borussen face Bodø/Glimt, they will complete an activation session at the hotel in the morning. Later, they head to the Aspmyra Stadium, where kick-off is at 9 p.m.
The weather forecast for today: temperatures are expected to reach up to nine degrees Celsius. The wind was already whistling around the ears yesterday, and there is another wind warning today. However, it is expected to calm down by kick-off.
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Here’s what’s on the agenda today:
- Trip to Bodø
- Press conference at Aspmyra Stadium
- Final training session at Aspmyra Stadium
+++ Final training session at Aspmyra Stadium +++
Six degrees Celsius, but it feels even colder: That’s how Norway welcomed the Borussia Dortmund team. Wearing hats, scarves, and gloves, the players braved the weather during their final training session. Only Maxi Beier was on the field in shorts. At Aspmyra Stadium, the Borussians got acquainted with the artificial turf.
+++ Press Conference with Niko Kovac and Julian Ryerson +++
“We have a win under our belt and want to cap it off with a home victory in tomorrow’s game,” said BVB coach Niko Kovac at the press conference, where Julian Ryerson sat beside him.
+++ Hello from Norway! +++
After a two-and-a-half-hour flight, the Borussians have arrived in Norway. By the way, the temperature here is six degrees. Now off to the stadium!
+++ Arrival at the Airport +++
The team has arrived at the airport. Nico Schlotterbeck is absent for load management reasons. Julian Ryerson and Carney Chukwuemeka are back in the squad.
Check-in, security, boarding—all done! The flight to the Arctic Circle is expected to take two and a half hours. The thermometer in Dortmund reads 16 degrees. Let’s see how cold it is in Norway. We’re switching our cell phones to airplane mode for now.
+++ Did you know? +++
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, newly founded sports clubs in Norway were often given short, powerful Norwegian terms as their names. These were meant to express qualities such as speed, strength, unity, or the forces of nature. For FK Bodø/Glimt from Bodø, the suffix “Glimt” means “lightning” or “flash.”
+++ A Quick Rematch +++
In their first matchup against Bodø/Glimt in December 2025, BVB created numerous scoring chances and dominated much of the game. From BVB’s perspective, the final stats showed 3.19 to 1.38 expected goals, 22 to 7 shots on goal, 63 percent possession, and 51 percent of duels won. Despite these clear statistical advantages, the match at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK ended in a 2–2 draw. Julian Brandt put BVB ahead in the 18th minute, before Aleesami equalized shortly before halftime. Brandt restored BVB’s lead in the 51st minute, but Hauge scored the equalizer in the 75th minute.
+++ Here’s the Opponent +++
Norway’s champions in 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024 are currently tied with Viking Stavanger for first place in the Eliteserien and are competing in the UEFA Champions League for the second time. Their first appearance was a whirlwind ride: After finishing 23rd in the regular season (including a 2-2 draw in Dortmund), the team defeated Inter Milan 3-1 and 2-1 in the Round of 16 playoffs; in the Round of 16, the club fell to Sporting CP of Lisbon 0-5 in extra time after a 3-0 win in the first leg. Game strategy, surprises, and a fortress.
+++ The Three Bs +++
Bodø, Berlin, Baku—these are the venues for the next six days. Champions League, Bundesliga, and then the Champions League again.
+++ Good morning from Dortmund +++
For the first time this Champions League season, Borussia Dortmund is hitting the road: On Matchday 2, the Black and Yellows are heading north. The team’s flight takes off at noon from Dortmund Airport, bound for Bodø. Upon arrival, Niko Kovac and Julian Ryerson will answer questions at the press conference. Usually, the team holds its final training session in Dortmund. Not today! By training at the match venue, the Borussians aim to get used to the artificial turf laid there.
The U19 team is also heading to Norway, where they’ll face a challenge in the UEFA Youth League on Wednesday.