Live blog for the Villarreal match: Kovac reshuffles midfield | OneFootball

Tuesday, September 8, 2026: Matchday!

What’s on today:

The starting lineup is out! Marcel Sabitzer returns to the starting XI. Joey Veerman will make his first-ever start for BVB in the Champions League. The same goes for Joane Gadou and Konstantinos Karetsas. Jobe Bellingham will begin on the bench.

BVB’s lineup against Villarreal CF: Kobel – Ryerson, Gadou, Anton, Svensson, Beier – Nmecha, Veerman, Karetsas, Sabitzer – Guirassy

+++ U19 lose Youth League opener despite leading twice +++

Borussia Dortmund’s U19s began their UEFA Youth League campaign with a hugely unfortunate 3-2 defeat against Villarreal CF. BVB were the better team for long stretches on Tuesday afternoon, took the lead twice through goals from Justin Hoy (1-0) and Jan-Luca Riedl (2-1) – and still ended up empty-handed. Read the full match report here.

+++ How to follow the match +++

Live ticker

In the “matchday mode” of the BVB app (available for download), you can get news, photos, posts, videos, stats and much more about the match from 09:09 until after the final whistle. From kick-off, the live ticker will keep you updated on every key moment.

NetradioBVB Netradio will cover the match from a black-and-yellow perspective. The commentators are Nobby Dickel and Boris Rupert. The live broadcast starts 15 minutes before kick-off and is available to everyone on the homepage and in the BVB app on iPhone and Android devices.

BVB-TVHighlights of the match, the press conference afterwards and post-match reaction are available on BVB-TV.

TVThe match will be shown live on Prime Video. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. Mats Hummels, Chris Kramer, Tabea Kemme and presenter Jonas Friedrich will report live from SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. Commentary will be provided by Hannes Herrmann and Benedikt Höwedes.

+++ BVB in yellow, Villarreal in grey +++

BVB will play in their yellow home shirts with black shorts and yellow socks (to the online shop). Villarreal therefore have to forgo their traditional yellow and switch to a grey kit.

+++ Refereeing team from Italy +++

The referee for the match is Simone Sozza, with Davide Imperiale and Giovanni Baccini as his assistants. Andrea Colombo will serve as fourth official, while Daniele Chiffi will take on the role of video assistant referee.

+++ Getting to SIGNAL IDUNA PARK +++

Travel to and from the stadium by public transport throughout NRW is included in the match ticket via the DSW21 combined ticket. This also applies to holders of plastic season tickets. Holders of a “Print@Home ticket” or a “Mobile Ticket” must also carry a public transport ticket in addition to their match ticket, which can be ordered online free of charge on this page. We have put together the most important travel information here.

+++ Where does the nickname “Yellow Submarine” actually come from? +++

Yellow shirts? We know that one. Like Borussia Dortmund, Villarreal CF normally wear yellow shirts too (not today, but more on that later). Because of this color choice dating back to 1947, the Spanish side are also known as “Submarino Amarillo” (“Yellow Submarine”). Then, around two decades later, in the 1967/68 season, fans brought a record player into the stadium and played the Beatles classic “Yellow Submarine” during a match while singing along for their yellow-clad team. And the nickname was born.

+++ What speaks in BVB’s favor against Villarreal +++

This is already BVB’s 47th European Cup match against a Spanish club – and the second meeting with the “Yellow Submarine” in the space of ten months. Borussia’s main strengths are their home form and Villarreal’s recent away record. What that has to do with standing areas and what unique feature today’s opponents have, you can read here.

+++ Kick-off to the UEFA Champions League +++

Matchday 1 of the new Champions League season is here! The ball gets rolling at 9 p.m. today at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. BVB will be looking to pick up their first points against Villarreal CF. If you want to be there, you can still secure tickets in the online ticket shop!

What’s on today:

+++ Return to Dortmund +++

While coach Inigo Perez was not yet on the touchline last year, midfielder Santi Comesana did feature in the 4-0 defeat against BVB. This is what the two had to say at the pre-match press conference:

Inigo Perez: “We have to leave what happened in the previous matches behind us and focus fully on a game as important as this one in the Champions League. We are approaching it with great anticipation, concentrating on ourselves and not looking back at last year’s meeting. We are aiming for a positive result.”

Santi Comesana: “I hope we put in a better performance than last year. I think we have learned from our mistakes and need to approach the game in a calmer way. Last year we were nervous. We want to leave that behind us and go into this match with more composure. I’m sure we have what it takes to win here.”

+++ Anton wants to take the first step +++

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

At the press conference, the Dortmund coach also stressed that he would not be misled by Villarreal CF currently sitting 16th in the Spanish table: “We must not make the mistake of overrating their position in the league. It does not reflect their performances in the first four league matches. And we also know: when the Champions League anthem plays, it’s a whole different story anyway.”

Kovac also no longer sees last year’s emphatic 4-0 win over Villarreal as relevant: “It sounded very clear, but it was actually a very close affair.” ()

+++ Squad update +++

At the press conference, head coach Niko Kovac commented on the remaining squad questions ahead of Tuesday’s match: along with long-term absentees Giannis Konstantelias and Emre Can (both recovering from cruciate ligament tears), Nico Schlotterbeck and Ramy Bensebaini will miss out through suspension after red and second-yellow red cards respectively.

Furthermore, as feared, Filippo Mane will also not be an option for tomorrow or the matches that follow: “We assume nothing will happen before the international break. He will certainly only return after that,” confirmed Kovac. Mane had to be substituted due to injury in Saturday’s match away to TSG Hoffenheim.

Meanwhile, BVB fans do not need to worry about Daniel Svensson and Konstantinos Karetsas, who did not take part in team training on Monday. Kovac said of them: “That was completely normal today. It can always happen that we let one or two players recover in the dressing room or in the gym. Both are perfectly fit and available as options for the game.” (Squad update)

+++ Final training session in Brackel +++

The Champions League balls are ready as Borussia Dortmund’s first-team players step onto the training pitch. Under blue skies, 18 outfield players and three goalkeepers complete the final training session on Monday morning. Missing: Daniel Svensson and Konstantinos Karetsas, who are doing an individual session indoors, suspended Ramy Bensebaini, and Filippo Mane, who had to come off injured against Hoffenheim. Nico Schlotterbeck, Giannis Konstantelias and Emre Can are also still absent. The first 15 minutes are open to media representatives, after which training continues behind closed doors.

+++ Strong home record in openers +++

With their fans behind them, BVB have usually enjoyed successful starts to Champions League campaigns in the past. They have recorded four wins, two draws and only one defeat. Black-and-yellow have not lost an opening home game for more than 30 years! Read more now:

+++ Villarreal? Haven’t we seen them before? +++

Exactly – the Spanish side were already visitors in Dortmund last season. On Matchday 5 of the UEFA Champions League at the end of November 2025, black-and-yellow won their home game against the “Yellow Submarine” 4-0. Serhou Guirassy (2), Karim Adeyemi and Daniel Svensson got the goals.

+++ Good morning from Dortmund +++

Today, the Black & Yellows are preparing for their first Champions League match of the 2026/27 season, which will kick off on Tuesday evening at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. The final training session will take place in the morning at the training ground in Dortmund-Brackel. In the afternoon, Niko Kovac and Waldemar Anton will answer journalists’ questions at the press conference.

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