Borussia Dortmund vs Athletic Club – Match preview and team news

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The Football Faithful

·1 October 2025

Borussia Dortmund vs Athletic Club – Match preview and team news

Borussia Dortmund and Athletic Club de Bilbao go head-to-head for the first time ever in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

Both sides will be searching for their first victory in the league phase, as Dortmund aim to capitalise on their impressive domestic form against the Basque outfit.

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Borussia Dortmund vs Athletic Club de Bilbao – Match preview and team news

Date: Wednesday, 1st October
Kick-off: 8pm BST
Venue: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund
Referee: Szymon Marciniak

Borussia Dortmund team news

Borussia Dortmund will welcome back star striker Serhou Guirassy, who passed a fitness test after missing Saturday’s 2-0 win over Mainz due to a thigh injury. The Guinea international, who was joint-top scorer in last season’s Champions League with 13 goals, has already netted five times in six appearances this campaign and will be crucial to BVB’s attack.

Manager Niko Kovač confirmed that apart from the absentees, namely Aaron Anselmino (muscle injury), Emre Can (groin injury), and Julien Duranville (dislocated shoulder), the squad is in good shape. Nico Schlotterbeck will make his Champions League from a lengthy injury layoff, having started Dortmund’s last two Bundesliga matches.

Julian Brandt, who impressed with two assists against Mainz after replacing Guirassy in the starting lineup, will be pushing for another starting berth. The midfielder has recovered from his recent wrist surgery and looks to build on his strong early-season form.

Athletic Club team news

Athletic Bilbao will have to go without star winger Nico Williams, who has been ruled out of the game through a groin injury sustained while on international duty with Spain. The 23-year-old, who turned down Barcelona to remain with his boyhood club this past summer, has been sidelined since early September and his absence will be keenly felt.

However, the Basque side have been boosted by the return of Aymeric Laporte, who completed his emotional homecoming after FIFA approved his transfer from Al-Nassr. The experienced centre-back has been registered for Champions League action and will strengthen a defence that has struggled for clean sheets this season.

Mikel Vesga and Beñat Prados remain sidelined through injury, while Alex Berenguer is also unavailable. Manager Ernesto Valverde will rely on captain Iñaki Williams to lead the line, though the striker has yet to score this season.

Form

Borussia Dortmund: WWDWW

Niko Kovač’s side have been in outstanding form domestically, remaining unbeaten across all competitions this season. Since their opening-day 3-3 draw with St. Pauli, Dortmund have won four consecutive Bundesliga matches without conceding a goal – their best defensive run in five years.

The Black and Yellows currently sit second in the Bundesliga table, just two points behind champions Bayern Munich. Their Champions League campaign began with a thrilling 4-4 draw at Juventus, where they led 4-2 before being pegged back in stoppage time.

Karim Adeyemi has been in exceptional form with three goals and two assists in his last four competitive fixtures, while the team’s defensive solidity under Kovač has been remarkable.

Athletic Club: LLLDL

Athletic’s form has been very concerning, with the Basque club winless in their last five matches across all competitions. After starting the season with three consecutive La Liga victories, they have managed just one point from their subsequent four league outings.

Their Champions League return after a decade away began disappointingly with a 2-0 home defeat to Arsenal, and recent La Liga losses to Valencia (2-0) and Villarreal (1-0) have highlighted their struggles. The team has found the net just once in their last five fixtures, indicating significant attacking issues.

Manager Ernesto Valverde faces the challenge of reigniting his side’s early-season momentum without key players.