Dortmund vs. FC Köln preview: Will this be the season for BVB?
Köln start their campaign with a Saturday evening clash against Dortmund who are set to embark on another journey to claim that elusive Bundesliga silverware.
Dortmund
Here we go again. It’s the start of the season and BVB have their eyes on the Bundesliga title. Will this finally be the year?
It’s been a successful preseason as the black and yellow haven’t lost a competitive match. Jude Bellingham and Raphaël Guerreiro are gone, but the signings of Marcel Sabitzer, Ramy Bensebaini, and Felix Nmecha look to be savvy business.
Edin Terzic will likely start in a 4-3-3 with Malen, Reus, Brandt, and Haller leading the frontline. It’s unclear whether Hummels or Schlotterbeck will start in defense alongside Niklas Süle.
When asked about Köln, Terzic stated, "It's not easy for them because they lost important players before the season. A difficult opponent who is always hungry and brave. We have felt in recent years that they can be unpleasant."
Team News
Julian Duranville, Gio Reyna, and Thomas Meunier are confirmed out. Karim Adeyemi and Felix Nmecha are questionable, but Terzic is “confident” they will be in the squad.
FC Köln
The Billy Goats weren’t very active in the market this summer, but the loss of Ellyes Skhiri on a free transfer stands out. It could be a difficult season for Köln, who look far removed from their 7th-place finish a year ago.
Former St. Pauli standout Leart Paqarada will slot in at left-back, while Luca Waldschmidt should play through the middle. Eric Martel will start in the center of the park, while it’s unclear whether Davie Selke is fit enough to play from the off.
In his press conference, the always-lively Steffen Baumgart said, “We'll head there to try and win. We did that last year and we conceded six. I'm looking forward to an emotional game, both want to start the season well. We want to play our way no matter where we are. We'll attack, press. Dortmund will do that too.”
Team News
Steffen Tigges and Linton Maina won't play, while Selke’s status is up in the air. Dejan Ljubicic is expected to be available.