BVB begins new season: First team return with performance testing | OneFootball

Pascal Groß is running. On the left-hand treadmill, he has already reached a high tempo and is moving at a rapid pace. Next to him, Daniel Svensson has just started, and is still moving at a slower pace. Both have wires attached to them, and have to keep stopping for blood to be taken from their earlobes and for their blood pressure to be taken. Jobe Bellingham watches his colleagues for a few moments. He is up next, but needs to go and warm up first. For the first team, this is standard. The lactic acid test, where the individual endurance of athletes is measured under increasing strain, is part of the standard programme when performance testing is carried out every summer and every winter.

Groß and Svensson were among the first players who arrived early this morning at the training grounds for the tests. Things have come to life again in Dortmund-Brackel - three weeks after BVB were eliminated from the FIFA Club World Cup, and a good three weeks before the next competitive game in the DFB Cup. Alongside Bellingham, newcomer Patrick Drewes and returner Sebastien Haller were also on site. Injured players Nico Schlotterbeck and Julien Duranville did not complete their performance tests, and neither did Julian Ryerson, who is unwell and left the training grounds early.

After having a few days off during the holiday, the first team had to do stabilisation, running and strength training according to their individual training plans. This weekend, back in Brackel, sports scientists, athletics coaches and doctors are assessing the players’ performance. This Saturday, in addition to the lactic acid test, medical tests will also be carried out. Athletic tests will take place on Sunday at the sports institute at Dortmund University, where the focus will be on strength, isokinetics and balance.

Test matches, training camp, and preparation for the season

The first team training session will take place on Monday (live on BVB TV from 11:00 CEST). Just two days later, the Borussians will be playing their first test match of the pre-season against Sportfreunde Siegen (30.7, 18:30 CEST). Tickets can be purchased from the Sportfreunde Siegen online shop. The game will be streamed live on BVB TV and Sky Sport News. From 4-9 August, the team will be at their training camp in Saalfelden (Austria). Initial information about public sessions at the training camp can be found here. The first competitive game of the 2025/26 season will be on 18 August at 20:45 CEST, when BVB will be playing away to third league team Rot-Weiss-Essen in the first main round of the DFB Cup.

Christina Reinke