A week after training kicked off, the first match for coach Enrico Maaßen's team took place on Wednesday afternoon. The opponents were PEC Zwolle, who finished 13th in the Eredivisie last season. The game at Zwolle's stadium in the Dutch province of Overijssel finished 1-1.

The Dortmund starting eleven included four new signings as Ted Tattermusch, Antonios Papadopoulos, Maik Amedick and Immanuel Pherai all made their debuts for the Black and Yellows. Pherai played for Zwolle until the end of last season so this was a reunion with his former teammates. 

Both teams started at a high tempo, particularly given the fact that they are still in the early stages of preparing for next season, but there were no clear chances in the first quarter of an hour. For BVB, most of the attacks came down the left, which was occupied by Kolbein Finsson and Maik Amedick. New centre forward, Ted Tattermusch, who often dropped back into midfield to get on the ball, looked lively. 

In the middle of the first half, Immanuel Pherai had the best chance for BVB with a shot from distance. The hosts hit the post just a few moments later. Zwolle then scored the first goal of the game just one minute before the break: Kenneth Paal scored a free-kick to make it 1-0, giving Luca Unbehaun in the BVB goal no chance as the ball sailed into the top corner. BVB went into the half-time break one goal behind. 

Enrico Maaßen made eight changes at the beginning of the second half, including new signings Timo Bornemann, Marco Pasalic and Kamal Bafounta. The Black and Yellows were the better team in the second half, with Marco Pasalic having a big chance to score the equaliser on the hour mark. A few moments later, Tobi Raschl also fired narrowly wide. But BVB gradually set up camp in the opposition half, with Zwolle looking to strike on the counter-attack.

Three minutes before the end of the game, BVB were finally rewarded for their efforts and the good performance in the second half. Maik Amedick teed up Marco Pasalic on the inside left, who slotted the ball into the far corner. "Great assist, Maik," said Maaßen, praising his young star following the game. There weren't many more chances, and in the end a draw was a fair result for both sides. Although there is still some room for improvement, the U23s put on a decent showing all in all.

Here are the reactions to the game:

BVB coach Enrico Maaßen: "We played well against a side in the top division. It was very intense and we used all the lads who were fit. In the end, Marco was able to put the finishing touch on the performance for a well-deserved 1-1 draw."

Antonios Papadopoulos: "We played well, we got into the game well. It was annoying to go 0-1 down before half-time – it was a needless free kick to give away. On the whole, we put our game plan into practice and are happy with the first game."

Marco Pasalic: "It was a great game. We got into the game well and started to dominate possession. I'm really pleased to get my first goal, but I'm also looking forward to the other goals I want to score. We were up against strong opposition today – they wanted to have a lot of possession. We kept a clean sheet in the second half. Now we're looking forward to the next games."

The next friendly is scheduled for next Sunday (4 July). Our U23s will travel to play SC Paderborn at 13:00 CET. After that, they will travel to the training camp in Kirchberg in Tyrol. 

BVB U23s, first half: Unbehaun, Tattermusch, Tachie, Thaqi, Papadopoulos, Finnsson, Amedick, Makreckis, Pherai, Dams, Raschl

BVB U23s, second: half: Drljaca, Bah-Traore, Ercan, Pasalic, Hober, Bafounta, Bornemann, Papadopoulos, Amedick, Krebs, Raschl

Goals: 1-0 Paal (44), 1-1 Pasalic (87)