It is half-time, but the position is clearly better than expected: instead of losing the match as many experts had forecasted, the Borussia B-Juniors returned from Bremen with an impressive 1-1 draw. On Saturday at 11am (Pitch one, training ground Brackel) they have the big chance to get to the final of the German Championship by winning the return leg.

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Head Coach Sebastian Geppert , who worked out a perfect match plan for the first leg said: „we will try to do everything not just to repeat this performance, but to improve on this performance." That is why he still regrets that his team missed some chances: "in the second half we clearly dominated Werder, unfortunately we were just not cut throat enough for five "hundred per cent" chances." Or they were lacking a finisher like Robin Kehr, who was out due to a serious ligament injury and could only support the team from the sideline.

However Gepperts respect for the so-called Weerder Bremen Über-Team is huge: "this opponent is a real challenge. Our boys will have to really grow beyond themselves in order to make the dream of reaching the final a reality." The squad will check in to their hotel on Saturday afternoon, so that they can all focus on the common goal and concentrate on their task ahead even more. Geppert knows what kind of a huge task awaits his team on Sunday: "in Bremen we weren't always determined enough in the one-on-one challenges in the first half and we let them get away with too much. But there again Werder's very strong and extremely dangerous attack is very difficult to defend against."

Werder announces "all out attack"

BVB has annoyed and provoked the big favourite. Werder's national goalkeeper Luca Plogmann announced in a confident manner: "all out attack. We want to win and we will win." Head Coach Marco Grote also does not consider the northern Champions as the outsider at all: "the 1-1 draw after Borussia's strong performance in the second half of the first leg is not a bad result. We have the quality to qualify for the final in Dortmund." Because goals scored away from home do not count double, both teams need to secure a win. If the match ends in a draw after 80 minutes, the match will go to penalties to decide who gets to the final. 

Borussia's coaching staff have a full squad available apart for longterm injury casualties Reda Khadra and Robin Kehr. Julius Schell is eligible to play again after being suspended for a red card and is available as a further alternative. Now the whole academy department is hoping for a big crowd. Geppert: "the team has deserved this. We need the support of our fans. If we all go all out for the win, then we can do it.“

And this would mean that they reach the final for the German Championship for the fourth time in a row. FC Schalke 04 and Bayern Munich face each other in the second semi-final. The academy team of the German record champions surprised everyone with a clear 3-0 win in the first leg.

The probable line-up: Unbehaun – von Ciesewski, Ferjani, Knoop, Mißner – Fath, Raschl, – Ibrahim, Aydinel, Rausch – Bakir.

Wilfried Wittke