First Champions League Home Game – Updates for the Match Against Villarreal | OneFootball

Here’s what’s on the schedule today:

Alongside the head coach, Waldemar Anton will also take his place on the podium in the media room. The defender, who has served as BVB captain so far this season, left no doubt about just how excited he is ahead of Tuesday night: “The anticipation is huge. For every player who plays for Borussia Dortmund, a home game like this in the UEFA Champions League is something very special. Last season is behind us; we’re looking ahead and going full throttle right from the start. And we want to take the first step tomorrow.”

+++ Kovac Warns Against Villarreal +++

The Dortmund coach also emphasized at the press conference that he won’t be misled by FC Villarreal’s current 16th-place standing in Spain: “We mustn’t make the mistake of overestimating their league position. That doesn’t reflect their performance in the first four league games. And we also know: When the Champions League anthem plays, it’s a whole different story anyway.”

Even last year’s decisive 4-0 win over Villarreal no longer matters to Kovac: “It sounded like a sure thing, but it was actually a very close game.”

At the press conference, head coach Niko Kovac addressed the outstanding personnel issues for Tuesday’s match: In addition to long-term absences Giannis Konstantelias and Emre Can (both out with cruciate ligament tears), Nico Schlotterbeck and Ramy Bensebaini are suspended due to a red card and a yellow-red card, respectively.

Furthermore, as feared, Filippo Mane will not be an option for tomorrow’s match or the subsequent games: “We’re assuming nothing else will happen before the international break. He’ll certainly return only after that,” Kovac confirmed. Mane had to be substituted due to injury during Saturday’s match against TSG Hoffenheim.

Meanwhile, BVB fans need not worry about Daniel Svensson and Konstantinos Karetsas, who did not participate in team training on Monday. Regarding them, Kovac said: “That was completely normal today. It can happen from time to time that we let one or two players recover in the locker room or in the gym. Both are in perfect health and are options for the match.”

The Champions League balls are ready as Borussia Dortmund’s first team takes the field. Under blue skies, 18 field players and three goalies completed the final training session on Monday morning. Absent: Daniel Svensson and Konstantinos Karetsas, who are completing an individual session indoors; Ramy Bensebaini, who is suspended for the match; and Filippo Mane, who had to be substituted due to injury against Hoffenheim. Nico Schlotterbeck, Giannis Konstantelias, and Emre Can also remain sidelined. The first 15 minutes are open to the media; the session then continues behind closed doors.

With their fans behind them, BVB has typically enjoyed a successful start to the Champions League in the past. They have four wins, two draws, and just one loss. The Black and Yellows haven’t lost an opening match at home in more than 30 years!

That’s right—the Spanish side was already a guest in Dortmund last season. On Matchday 5 of the UEFA Champions League in late November 2025, the Black and Yellows won their home game against the “Yellow Submarine” 4–0. Serhou Guirassy (2), Karim Adeyemi, and Daniel Svensson secured the victory.

The weather is on our side: A mix of sun and clouds is forecast for Tuesday, with temperatures around 19 degrees—perfect conditions for an unforgettable Champions League evening at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK!

The Borussians squad is preparing today for the first Black and Yellow UEFA Champions League match of the 2026–27 season, which kicks off Tuesday evening at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. The final training session will take place this morning at the training facility in Dortmund-Brackel. This afternoon, Niko Kovac and Waldemar Anton will answer journalists’ questions at the press conference.