Borussia Dortmund vs Werder Bremen Preview: BVB aiming for cup revenge
Borussia Dortmund welcome back Werder Bremen to the Signal Iduna Park for the second time this month as the Bundesliga rivals renew hostilities in the second round of the DFB-Pokal cup.
Dortmund and Bremen clashed on 9 October, their first game post the international break and played a 2-2 draw with all four goals coming in the last few minutes.
Daniel Svensson and Nico Schlotterbeck scored in the 80th and 85th minute as a fifth consecutive league win seemed guaranteed.
But Bremen fired back through Ludovit Reis in the 88th minute before Niclas Fullkrug equalized in the second added minute as Dortmund dropped point for the first time in the competition this season.
With the infamous defensive collapse still fresh in their memory, Niko Kovac's side will be gunning for a revenge here and advance into the next round of the cup.
They have momentum in their favor too after back-to-back wins over Sabah FK in the Champions League and Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.
Interestingly, the River Islanders also pulled off a narrow 3-2 win over Mainz in the Bundesliga last weekend, with Dortmund's tormentors Fullkrug and Reis on target for them once more.
Moreover, history is on Bremen's side too as the side has claimed wins in their most recent three cup meetings in 2008, 2018 and 2019, although the overall record stands at four wins for each side.
Borussia Dortmund vs Werder Bremen Team News
Rumors floating online suggest Joane Gadou is set for a return to the XI after coming off the bench against Frankfurt at the weekend, while Jobe Bellingham, who assisted Beier's winning goal on Saturday, would also start for Dortmund. Long-term absentees Emre Can (ACL), Giannis Konstantelias (ACL) and Justin Lerma (muscle) remain out.
Werder Bremen are stunted in the attack with injuries to Justin Njinmah and Keke Topp, so the in-form Niclas Fullkrug could retain his place in the XI, aiming for his 10th goal of the season already. Senne Lynen could come back into the midfield for them while Mick Schmetgens is gunning for a place in defense.
Borussia Dortmund vs Werder Bremen Predicted XI
Borussia Dortmund's probable XI: Silas Ostrzinski; Joane Gadou, Waldemar Anton, Romeo Ritter; Julian Ryerson, Jobe Bellingham, Carney Chukwuemeka, Daniel Svensson; Ethan Nwaneri, Maximilian Beier; Mathis Albert.
Werder Bremen's probable XI: Karl Hein; Arthur, Mick Schmetgens, Amos Pieper, Olivier Deman; Youri Regeer, Senne Lynen; Mitchell Weiser, Chuki, Marco Grull; Niclas Fullkrug.
Borussia Dortmund vs Werder Bremen Prediction
Dortmund can expect another tough clash against Bremen, led by the peerless Fullkrug. While he may score against his former side again, we're betting on the BVB to see them off narrowly here.
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Werder Bremen
