Dortmund derby winners aim to extend winning runs | OneFootball

Youth matches at a glance

U23: Borussia Mönchengladbach – BVB (Regionalliga West): 5 September 2026, 2 pm (Grenzlandstadion)

U17: Rot-Weiss Essen – BVB (DFB Youth League): 5 September 2026, 1 pm (hybrid turf pitch, Seumannstr. 55, Essen)

U23 face tricky task in Mönchengladbach

Thanks to a run of three consecutive wins, capped by the derby victory over Schalke, the U23s have moved into the group of top teams in the Regionalliga. “You can say that we’ve had a good start to the season,” says Daniel Rios. Much to the coach’s relief, the problems feared at the start of the league campaign due to the major squad overhaul did not materialize: “What makes me very happy is the team unity. We used the time very well to grow together. The team has become a unit that has handled the situation well.”

That spirit should also help them master the tough task against the team currently second in the table from the Lower Rhine. “Gladbach have a technically strong side that is very flexible. Like us, they try to dominate the game rather than sit back and wait,” said Rios. The “Foals” are two points ahead of BVB, having played one game more so far. Arne Wessels, who was suspended against Schalke after a second yellow card, returns to the squad.

U19 tested against fourth-placed Essen

After two recent away matches in Osnabrück (2:0) and Duisburg (1:1), Borussia Dortmund’s U19s will enjoy home advantage again on Saturday. With a win over fourth-placed Rot-Weiss Essen at the youth performance centre, coach Felix Hirschnagl’s team could extend their lead at the top of the DFB Youth League table. Despite their clear 3:0 home defeat to Duisburg on the previous matchday, Essen should not be underestimated. After all, just a few days earlier they had held fellow title contenders FC Schalke to a 1:1 draw. Another warning sign: last season, too, Essen proved awkward opponents for BVB in both group matches (3:2/2:2).

For most of the Dortmund squad, the match will be a dress rehearsal for the start of the league phase of the UEFA Youth League, where their first game is at home against Villarreal CF on Tuesday (4 pm). Their other opponents are FK Bodø/Glimt (14 October), Sabah FC (20 October), Real Betis (4 November), Arsenal FC (24 November) and Inter Milan (9 December). The BVB team will mainly be made up of players from the U19, U23 and U17 squads.

Another top clash for unbeaten U17

Like the U23s, the U17s are also drawing fresh confidence from last matchday’s derby win. Thanks to a hard-fought 1:0 victory over previously unbeaten FC Schalke 04, Karsten Gorges’ team moved onto 12 points and took sole possession of top spot in preliminary group G of the DFB Youth League. Despite all the praise for the “good team performance,” the coach still saw room for improvement: “Unfortunately, we are still giving the ball away too often in transition when attacking. That’s something we need to work on. But of course we’re delighted with an ideal start to the season.”

Just one week after the clash with the Royal Blues, the next top match awaits on Saturday. Rot-Weiss Essen, their opponents, are in third place, but already trail Borussia by five points. One notable fact: Essen have yet to win a home game this season. In their matches against Osnabrück (4:4) and Bochum (2:3), they picked up only one point.

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