On Saturday – Borussia Dortmund's 111th birthday – the U23s will face 18th-placed Wuppertaler SV in the Regionalliga West. It is the penultimate game of the 2020 calendar year for coach Enrico Maaßen's side. Kick-off at Fußballpark Hohenbuschei is at 14:00 CET.

For the visitors from Wuppertal, this season is all about surviving relegation and staying in the Regionalliga West. With only 16 points from 18 games, WSV are fourth from bottom in the table and two points away from safety. Björn Mehnert was appointed the new head coach at the beginning of December. Mehnert started the season in charge of RW Ahlen but was dismissed from the role after a poor run of results, which included a 6-0 defeat at the hands of the BVB U23s. Since former BVB U23 player Mehnert has been in Wuppertal, two games have been played – a 3-3 draw with Bonner SC and a 1-0 defeat away to Bergisch Gladbach. 

Midfielder Beyhan Ametov is the standout player for the visitors. The 22-year-old half-German, half-North Macedonian has scored six goals and set up an additional two in 18 appearances. Ametov, who also plays for the North Macedonia U21s, used to play in Black & Yellow. In a spell with the U23s between 2017 and 2019, he notched seven scorer points (four goals, three assists) in 31 Regionalliga West matches. He then left for Wuppertal. 

The most recent meeting between the clubs was a 3-1 victory for BVB in January 2020. Marco Hober, Steffen Tigges and Joseph Boyamba scored the goals for Borussia.

With two matches still remaining, BVB are confirmed to finish the calendar year in second spot. RW Essen are seven points clear having played two games more. Currently behind BVB in third place are Fortuna Cologne, who are six points behind having also played two games more. The Black & Yellows will not wrap up the first half of their season until January, when they catch up on their postponed fixture with the Borussia Mönchengladbach U23s. 

As per usual, the match on Saturday will be broadcast on BVB TV. (tl)