BVB women rely on tried-and-tested strengths in Rhade | OneFootball

Initial situation

Due to the early opening match of the new Regionalliga season (3-0 against Arminia Bielefeld), Borussia Dortmund’s women enjoyed three extra days before their next task away to SSV Rhade. A welcome bonus for the team, as Markus Högner also noted in retrospect: “After the long pre-season and the intense first home game, we had a free weekend to recharge our batteries and gather new energy,” said the coach. “In the days that followed, we trained very well and discussed general topics such as our positional play and solutions against deep-lying opponents.” Two further sessions are still scheduled for Friday and Saturday before the clash with SSV Rhade.

Squad

Melanie Schuster was unable to train during the week due to the flu; Marina Scholz (a bruise on the instep) is also not yet an option for Sunday. Markus Högner: “Instead, Nora Willeke and Mia Böger from the second team joined the squad during the week. Both know our processes from pre-season and from last season.” Forward Emilia Pauls has resumed parts of training after tearing a lateral ligament in her left ankle.

Opponents

SSV Rhade’s women began their Regionalliga campaign with a 2-1 defeat at MSV Duisburg. Markus Högner is not letting that – or his Borussia side’s wins from last season (7-0 and 3-1) – influence him, however: “With Sammy Messalkhi, SSV have an outstanding coach who previously gained experience in the 2. Bundesliga with Gütersloh. Since taking over at the end of 2025, he has stabilised the team and ultimately kept SSV Rhade in the league.” That is why the BVB coach wants to focus above all on his own side’s tried-and-tested strengths: “If we bring our qualities onto the pitch – high tempo, good counter-pressing, dynamism in our actions – then we will be able to shape this game the way we want.”

Meeting robustness with experience

Some opponents respond to these qualities with robust challenges and a high level of physical commitment: that became apparent at times in pre-season and also in the first competitive match. “Against Bielefeld, it was the case that some of the opposing players were late into challenges in certain situations,” analyses Markus Högner. “Of course, a certain hardness is always a possible tool for taking on favoured teams. But with all the experience we have, we must not let that get to us at any point in the game.”

BVB’s first away match of the new Regionalliga season will kick off next Sunday at 15:00 on the grass pitch at Sportpark Risthaus (Dillenweg 115, 46286 Dorsten). Tickets are available online from SSV Rhade (adults: €7, concessions: €5, youth: €3). In addition, Pluto TV will broadcast the match live and free of charge.Robert Targan

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