BVB U23 host Rödinghausen, Jesper Verlaat still a doubt | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund have three Regionalliga West matches scheduled within eight days. Before Westfalia Rhynern visit Stadion Rote Erde on Wednesday and then the away game at SC Paderborn II follows the next Monday (21 September), SV Rödinghausen are up first for coach Daniel Rios’ team this Sunday (kick-off: 2 p.m.).

While BVB’s U23s are still unbeaten in fourth place with twelve points from six games, they are already seven points behind leaders FC Gütersloh despite having played one match fewer. Rödinghausen, meanwhile, have made a poor start with five points from seven matches and sit just above the relegation places only thanks to a slightly better goal difference.

Even so, BVB coach Rios warned on the club website against underestimating the opposition: “Rödinghausen have the quality to get out of situations like this. They will do everything they can for that. That’s why we’re expecting a difficult game.”

Rios hints at rotation

As usual, Rios is not really willing to show his hand when it comes to team news beforehand, but in view of the packed schedule over the next few games and his trust in the whole squad, he has already hinted at some rotation: “It’s very pleasing that many of the boys are performing well. As coaches, we don’t feel that we only have eleven good players. The squad is very evenly matched, so during busy weeks we can also bring some freshness into the starting eleven.”

Photo: IMAGO / HMB-Media

It also remains unclear whether experienced player Jesper Verlaat, who was carrying a knock and stayed on the bench for the full 90 minutes in the recent 0-0 at Borussia Mönchengladbach II, will be available again. Regardless of the specific lineup, Rios is once again demanding a focused performance from his side, as has usually been the case so far this season: “Wins give you self-confidence and a certain natural understanding of how you want to do certain things with and without the ball. The only important thing is that the boys don’t forget how they got there – through daily, hard work.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.