Post-Match Report
Four competitive-match debuts at BVB: These new signings have us wanting more
Even for BVB head coach Niko Kovac, it quickly became clear despite the 1-2 loss to Bayern: “All four showed why we signed them.”
Joane Gadou completed the entire preseason and established himself in the right center-back position from day one in Dortmund. He was also in the BVB starting lineup against Munich, as was Kosta Karetsas, who caused a stir on the right wing for over an hour. In the second half, Giannis Konstantelias and Joey Veerman took the field in the Black and Yellow jersey for the very first time. Both had only taken to the field with their new teammates for the first time during the course of the training week.
Konstantelias as a New Source of Energy
Giannis Konstantelias likely made the biggest impression on Saturday evening. The Greek player joined training for the first time on Friday but was still given the opportunity to play against Bayern Munich starting in the 46th minute.
Surprisingly, the 23-year-old needed no time to find his rhythm. As early as the 52nd minute, he attempted a spectacular bicycle kick that was narrowly blocked. Even after that, he was directly involved in many counterattacks and scoring chances. This included the 1-2 goal by Fabio Silva, which Konstantelias set up with a very fine pass. Niko Kovac praised him highly: “He did really well. The way he set up that goal was top-notch.”
With his creativity and drive forward, Konstantelias should quickly earn himself even more playing time.
Veerman exudes vision and structure
Joey Veerman, too, has only had a few training sessions with his new team under his belt. He made his BVB debut in the 62nd minute.
Veerman immediately took charge in the midfield. The Dutchman brought order and precision to a game in which Dortmund was now playing much higher up the field and increasingly pushing Bayern back. He shifted the play, pulled the strings, and was involved in numerous plays during his nearly half-hour on the field. Niko Kovac later described the new signing from Eindhoven as a “revitalizing element” for the Black and Yellows.
Veerman himself described his first appearance in a BVB jersey as a “special day” and emphasized: “We want to compete for titles this season, and I want to be a part of that.” His impact was less spectacular than Konstantelias’s, but it provided much-needed structure.
18-year-old Karetsas Remarkably Poised
Even before the Super Cup, Kosta Karetsas had already demonstrated his soccer skills in the friendlies against Arsenal (3–2) and AS Roma (2–2).
He was also a real asset on the right side of the attack against Bayern Munich. He initiated many of BVB’s attacks, and shortly after halftime, only FCB goalkeeper Manuel Neuer stood in the way of his first goal at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. The 18-year-old came across as remarkably composed and also took direct responsibility for free kicks and corner kicks.
BVB coach Kovac highlighted Karetsas’s ease: “With Kosta, you could see what a creative player he is and what a great left foot he has.” Karetsas remains a candidate for the starting lineup for the Bundesliga opener against Hamburger SV.
Gadou: The Fastest Man on the Field
Once again, Joane Gadou was part of that lineup against Munich. The 19-year-old played on the right side of the back three and impressed with his uncompromising style. When defending, he didn’t shy away from any tackle and played with courage.
“He’s very fast, very uncompromising, and aggressive. It’s damn hard to outrun him,” said Kovac, also praising the young defender’s strong performance. With a speed of more than 35 km/h, no one was clocked faster than Gadou that evening. For him, the focus in the coming weeks will be primarily on building chemistry, as he took the field alongside his center-back partner Waldemar Anton for the very first time in the Super Cup.
Four debuts, four new opportunities
The Super Cup didn’t bring BVB a title, but it did provide important insights. Karetsas and Gadou proved they’re ready for the starting lineup, while Konstantelias and Veerman brought fresh energy off the bench. All four made a great impression and have us even more excited for the Bundesliga opener this coming Saturday evening (6:30 p.m. on Sky).
Mats-Yannick Roth
