Training camp is over, and now the restart of the Bundesliga season beckons: the BVB squad have touched down safely in Dortmund. The Black and Yellows are happy with how things went over the course of their nine day stay in the Spanish town of Marbella. Now the focus will be entirely directed towards the match next Saturday away to RB Leipzig (18:30 kick-off).

''We worked hard in intensive sessions,'' was the overall conclusion drawn by coach Lucien Favre after the 2-1 win in the warm-up match against Feyenoord. The side also came out on top against Willem II Tillburg (3-2) and fellow Bundesliga outfit Fortuna Düsseldorf (3-2), with frontman Maximilian Philipp managing to bag himself three goals in the process. The Bundesliga front-runners were able to kick-start the new year in perfect conditions, both with regards to the facilities at the ''Marbella Football Center'' as well as the weather on the Costa del Sol. 

Reus back in action, Zorc praises youth players

''It was a shame that a couple of players weren't able to undergo the full training programme. This is true of Marco Reus, who was ill for a few days,'' said sporting director Michael Zorc after the last training session in Spain. Reus was nonetheless able to make his return to light training this morning. Striker Paco Alcácer also wasn't quite ready to make an appearance in the friendly matches.

There were however a few positive developments with regards to the personnel situation: Abdou Diallo was able to play for 45 minutes against Willem II, while his defensive colleague Dan-Axel Zagadou is expected to be back to full fitness in the next few weeks. Given that Manuel Akanji is currently out with a hip problem, a central-defensive combination of Ömer Toprak and Julian Weigl was given a trial run, with some success. Jacob Bruun Larsen, Thomas Delaney and Marius Wolf, all of whom have been out injured recently, were also able to get some match practice in the Spanish sun under their belts.

The youth players who made the trip were also given the chance to prove themselves out on the pitch. Amos Pieper and Julian Schwermann from the U23 squad were given a run out, as was 18-year-old Tobias Raschl (U19), who Zorc described as: ''An interesting young lad, who we'll definitely be keeping an eye on.'' 

Focus on Leipzig: ''That's when it really gets serious'' 

The team are back at black-and-yellow headquarters for the time being, but Friday evening will see them make the trip to Leipzig. All eyes will be on the side's first Bundesliga match in 2019. Sporting director Zorc summed it up perfectly: ''We have to get out of training mode and get into battle mode. In Leipzig, that's when it really gets serious.''
Patrick Eckholt