Pre-Match Report
Dortmund’s U19 Team Is Eager for Its Next Derby Victory
Youth Matches at a Glance
U23: BVB vs. Bonner SC (Regionalliga West): October 23, 2026, 7:30 p.m. (Rote Erde Stadium)
U19: FC Schalke 04 – BVB (DFB Youth League): October 25, 2026, 11:00 a.m. (Parkstadion, Parkallee 3, Gelsenkirchen)
U17: No game
U23 Hopes to Continue Its Winning Streak
Thanks to four straight wins, Borussia has now caught up with league-leading Oberhausen in points. As a result, the team is increasingly being viewed as a promotion contender. “No one declared us the clear favorites before the season. I see it exactly the same way. But the lads have developed—and we’re building on that progress,” said BVB head coach Daniel Rios in response to questions on the matter.
In their home game against Bonner SC, the only undefeated team in the Regionalliga West aims to continue its winning streak. However, the task is unlikely to be an easy one. Bonn, currently seventh in the standings, is coming to town and had also been on an impressive run up until last weekend. The “Rheinlöwen” had gone ten games in a row without a loss before their streak was snapped by a 0–1 home defeat against Hilden. Rios is approaching the match with respect: “Bonn has shown in recent weeks just how difficult it is to beat them. They have players who, on a good day in the Regionalliga, can make the difference. Plus, they have a clear game plan—both with and without the ball.”
It remains to be seen whether BVB will have a full roster to draw from. U23 players Aaron Held, Tim Degener, and Fadi Zarqelain only returned on Wednesday from the U19 Youth League match in Baku. A decision on their spots in the starting lineup will be made at the last minute. Midfielder Mussa Kaba, who is out with a shoulder injury, remains unavailable.
Anticipation Overcomes Fatigue: U19s Eager for the Revierderby
Three games, three wins: Coach Felix Hirschnagl’s team has mastered this intense stretch of matches with impressive composure. Their convincing 5-0 victory over Norwegian Youth League side FK Bodø/Glimt was followed by a 6-2 home win against Rot-Weiß Oberhausen. Most recently, BVB also secured a 2-0 victory in their away match against Sabah FC in Azerbaijan. In just seven days, Borussia has thus built up plenty of confidence for their next challenging task: the prestigious Revierderby on Sunday (11 a.m.) at FC Schalke 04.
With another win, Dortmund aims to maintain its lead in the DFB Youth League standings. The special significance of this historic rivalry should help the team quickly put the rigors of the two long away trips behind them. “We know how hard it is to play in the Youth League after a Youth League match. We’ve traveled about 11,000 kilometers so far; we’ll recover and then fully focus on the derby,” explains Hirschnagl.
There’s every reason to expect a closely contested match. The first leg was already fiercely contested and was decided by an early own goal by Schalke. BVB won narrowly 1–0, so the hosts are likely eager for revenge. “They’ll be looking to get even for that,” warns Hirschnagl.
The current standings add extra intensity to the derby. Schalke, sitting in fourth place, is already eight points behind Borussia and under pressure. To avoid further jeopardizing their qualification for the main round, the Royal Blues desperately need to pick up points. Hirschnagl therefore expects an opponent that will throw everything into the mix: “I took a look at the standings. This is kind of their last ticket to the main round. Schalke will give it their all.”
A Breather for the U17s Before the Top-of-the-Table Clash
The U17s also have a matchup against FC Schalke coming up in the DFB Youth League. Unlike the U19s, however, this match won’t take place for a few more days. The rescheduled match from Matchday 10 against MSV Duisburg—which BVB won 4-1 last Wednesday—means Coach Karsten Gorges’ team has a weekend off. The extra time comes at just the right moment: it allows the Dortmund team to prepare in peace for the highly anticipated top-of-the-table clash on October 30 at 4 p.m. at the Parkstadion.