Borussia Dortmund's U17 and U19 sides will both get their respective 2019/2020 Bundesliga seasons underway with matches against newly-promoted club Wuppertaler SV, set to take place on the weekend of 10/11 August. The U17s will then face Preußen Münster away on 17 August before hosting arch-rivals FC Schalke 04 at the club's youth performance centre on Matchday 3 (Wednesday 21 August). 

U17 coach Sebastian Geppert started pre-season preparations with 24 players. Lion Semic, Dennis Lütke Frie and Tekin Gencoglu are the only players remaining in the squad from last season's campaign, which ended with the team being crowned champions of the west Germany regional division. In addition to players that have come up the ranks of the club's U15 and U16 sides, there are a couple of fresh faces: Bradley Fink, known for his prowess in front of goal, has arrived from FC Lucerne, while promising young central midfielder Vasco Walz has joined from Karlsruhe FC. This Saturday will see the side face VfB Stuttgart in a friendly match at the club academy in Brackel, with kick-off scheduled for 13:00 CET.  

Meanwhile, new U19 head coach Michael Skibbe is pleased with how his side's first week of training has gone: ''It's been a lot of fun. The boys have a brilliant attitude and a really respectful group dynamic.'' The reigning German Champions will kick off the new Bundesliga season with a trip to play Wuppertaler SV on 11 August. The first home game of the season will fall on Sunday 18 August, when 1. FC Cologne come to Dortmund, while Matchday 3 will see the Black & Yellows travel to face Borussia Mönchengladbach.

The U19s will play their first friendly match of pre-season this Friday. TSG Sprockhövel will be the visitors in Brackel, with the match scheduled to kick-off at 17:30 CET. (wiwi)

Full German language report on the academy website