BVB U23 face tough test, leaders Fortuna Köln come to town | OneFootball

Against Fortuna Düsseldorf II (4:1) and at Bonner SC (1:0), Borussia Dortmund II picked up two consecutive wins before the international break. But as the final stretch now begins in the Regionalliga West on Saturday, BVB’s U23 face the ultimate challenge, with league leaders Fortuna Köln visiting Stadion Rote Erde for a 2 p.m. kickoff.

The Cologne side from the Südstadt district have lost only once this season and, with a nine-point lead over Rot-Weiß Oberhausen, are clearly on course for promotion. However, they have not wrapped it up yet and therefore will certainly not be giving anything away in Dortmund. BVB coach Daniel Rios knows that too and made no secret of his respect for the opposition in the build-up to the match on the club website: “Right now, they are the best team in the league. They have been consistent throughout the season, can play football in the right moments, but can also defend with physicality and work hard off the ball.”

Nevertheless, Rios also believes in his own team, who should not only react to the opponent but also take the initiative themselves: “We want to stay true to our style, play out from the back, look to exploit depth in a targeted way, and transition quickly after winning the ball.”

Squad situation remains tight

While the first meeting in Cologne — where BVB had to concede the 2:2 equalizer deep into stoppage time — serves as encouragement, the personnel situation is still far from ideal.

Photo: IMAGO / Thomas Bielefeld

In addition to long-term absentees Felix Paschke, Pharell Kegni, Prince Aning and Nick Cherny, Ismael Mansaray and Mussa Kaba are also still unavailable. The duo are still in rehabilitation training and are not to be put under too much strain too soon.

However, coach Rios will likely at least be able to count on the return of Bennedikt Wüstenhagen, giving him an additional option in attack.

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