BVB women face the SGS Essen's U21 | OneFootball

When asked about the convincing 2-0 away win in the previous week against FSV Gütersloh, Markus Högner said: “We played particularly well in the first half. We had several clear-cut scoring opportunities and definitely deserved the victory.” He added that it is important that they are able to win matches where they only hold a narrow lead for a long time: “This was also the feedback I got from the team afterwards”, said Högner. “The players were understandably pleased with the fact that they were able to patiently secure a win in a close game.” The BVB women remain just three points behind the top of the Regionalliga West.

Borussia's up and coming opponent has also established itself in the top third of the table: SGS Essen's U21 are a team that currently holds the fifth place with 21 points, and in the last ten Regionalliga matches have suffered only one narrow defeat (3-2 away at Bayer Leverkusen's U23). Markus Högner has considerable respect for the team: “It's a young and technically gifted team that always aims for ball possession. They have performed extremely well this season. SGS U21's will definitely prove to be a challenge for us on Sunday.” The coach specifically mentioned Essen's midfielder Eriona Krasniqi, who has scored in each of her team's last three matches.

Markus Högner's extensive knowledge of the football qualities of Essen's youth teams do not only come from the fact that he has prepared so well for the upcoming match. As long-time head coach of SGS women's Bundesliga team (2010 to 2016 and 2019 to 2025), he would also work regularly with the youth teams of the Sportgemeinschaft Essen-Schönebeck 19/68 e. V.: “I know the club very well of course and I still follow the team's progress in the Bundesliga closely. I'm looking forward to the game on Sunday, but my focus is, of course, solely on Borussia Dortmund.”

Robert Targan