Borussia Dortmund’s pre-season has been a replica of their tumultuous campaign last term.
As the Black and Yellows prepare to host Aston Villa in their final friendly before the Bundesliga kicks off, questions linger over the direction of the club under new manager Nuri Sahin.
Both playing their final pre-season friendly, Dortmund and Villa will lock horns at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday evening.
While last season’s Champions League finalists are adjusting to life under new management, Unai Emery is tuning his squad up for both the Premier League and a shot at Europe’s top club competition.
Neither side have had the best preparation for the upcoming season, but Dortmund’s pre-season campaign has been particularly disappointing.
Despite squaring off against weaker sides, Der BVB have mustered just one win from four games thus far (D2, L1).
It hasn’t been the best start to life for Sahin at Signal Iduna Park, amid reports of a falling out with sporting director Sven Mislintat. The unrest has reflected in the team’s on-field performance.
Dortmund endured a torrid 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign under Edin Terzic’s leadership, finishing fifth in the table, although it was enough to secure Champions League football thanks to Germany’s UEFA coefficient points.
They also crashed out of the DFB Pokal at the round of 16 stage following a 2-0 defeat by VfB Stuttgart, with new striker Serhou Guirassy getting on the score sheet.
Despite the disappointing domestic campaign, Der BVB enjoyed a memorable run to the Champions League final.
While they suffered a gut-wrenching defeat against Real Madrid in the showpiece at Wembley Stadium, the club faithful will hope their team can defy the odds again this season.
Plenty of eyebrows were raised when Dortmund named former midfielder Sahin as Terzic’s successor, and the jury remains out on the Turkish manager, who is an unknown quantity.
If their pre-season form is anything to go by, Dortmund fans may be in for a long season, but those still eager to catch all the live action can get their tickets at seatsnet.com ahead of the new season.
Dortmund’s first real pre-season test came against Villarreal, where they played out a 2-2 draw. Sahin will be hoping his side can step things up against an equally out-of-sorts Villa side on Saturday.
No side across Europe’s top five leagues has spent more money in the transfer market than Villa this summer.
The club have spared no expense as they prepare for Champions League football following a memorable 2023/24 season, where they finished fourth in the Premier League.
However, their preparations for the new season has been far from ideal, and Unai Emery will be hoping his side can step things up in their final pre-season friendly.
A win in their final fixture against Dortmund will be a huge confidence boost for the team ahead of their Premier League curtain-raiser against West Ham United.
Match Preview
Villa bounced back from a disappointing pre-season tour of the United States with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Athletic Bilbao at Walsall’s Bescot Stadium.
The win provided a much-needed morale boost for Emery’s side after suffering three consecutive defeats against Columbus Crew, RB Leipzig, and Club America.
The Spaniard welcomed his fellow Basques to the West Midlands, eager for his side to step up their preparation for the new season, and they provided the goods in their penultimate pre-season fixture.
Emery’s young guns rose to the occasion, with academy graduates Cameron Archer and Jaden Philogene impressing alongside established talent Jacob Ramsey, who found the net with a crucial goal.
The result will undoubtedly boost confidence within the squad as they gear up for the demanding Premier League campaign.
The victory also showcased the depth and quality within the Villa squad, offering a glimpse of the exciting potential that lies ahead.
With the return of key internationals imminent, Emery is set to have a full complement of players at his disposal for the season opener against West Ham United.
The Villans will be eager to sign off their pre-season campaign on a high and will fancy their chances against an out-of-sorts Dortmund side.
While Villa have splashed the cash in a bid to cement their newfound position in the upper echelons of the Premier League, Dortmund’s primary tweak has come in the dugout with former BVB ace Sahin replacing Terzic.
Although, they have also been active in the transfer market, rebuilding the squad following the departures of key players like Jadon Sancho, Mats Hummels, Marco Reus, and Niclas Fullkrug.
Sahin takes the reins at Die Schwarzgelben after Terzic’s heart-wrenching near-misses in the Champions League.
After blowing the chance to finally end Bayern Munich’s reign of terror on the final day of the 2022/23 title race, Terzoc’s side narrowly lost the Champions League final to Madrid in last season’s showpiece at Wembley.
The pressure is on for Sahin to deliver, although last season’s sub-par campaign gives the rookie manager plenty of scope to improve.
A pre-season of mixed results, including a four-goal thriller against Villarreal, offers little in the way of definitive conclusions.
However, the Black and Yellows will be desperate to hit the ground running when the Bundesliga kicks off against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Team news & potential line-ups
Villa manager Emery is poised to field his strongest available starting line-up for Saturday’s pre-season clash against Dortmund in Germany.
The Spaniard has made extensive use of his squad during the pre-season campaign, affording opportunities to fringe players and new signings alike.
However, with the competitive season on the horizon, Emery is expected to opt for a more experienced outfit.
Key players like Emiliano Martinez, Ezri Konsa, and Ollie Watkins, who were recently involved in international finals, are set to return to the fold after an extended break.
The Villains have bolstered their ranks with the arrivals of Amadou Onana, Samuel Iling-Junior, Ross Barkley, Enzo Barrenechea, and Ian Maatsen, adding depth and competition to the squad.
Meanwhile, the future of Colombian forward Jhon Duran remains uncertain, while influential midfield general Boubacar Kamara and defender Tyrone Mings continue their rehabilitation from serious injuries.
Dortmund’s preparations for the upcoming season have taken a significant hit with the news that new striker Serhou Guirassy will be sidelined until mid-September.
The injury opens the door for a potential return to the spotlight for Ivory Coast’s Africa Cup of Nations hero, Sebastien Haller, who could be tasked with filling the void left by departed Fullkrug.
The departure of Sancho has also created opportunities for young talent, with his compatriot Jamie Bynoe-Gittens poised to seize his chance in the first team.
Meanwhile, the return of Giovanni Reyna from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest bolsters Dortmund’s midfield options, while the experienced Pascal Gross arrives from Brighton & Hove Albion to add steel and creativity to the engine room.
New signings Waldemar Anton and Yan Couto, who joined from Stuttgart and Manchester City, respectively, will also be eager to make their mark on the team.
Borussia Dortmund potential starting line-up:
(4-2-3-1): Gregor Kobel; Yan Couto, Nico Schlotterbeck, Waldemar Anton, Ramy Bensebaini; Pascal Gross, Marcel Sabitzer; Karim Adeyemi, Giovanni Reyna, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens; Sebastien Haller.
Aston Villa potential starting line-up:
(4-2-3-1): Emiliano Martinez; Matty Cash, Lamare Bogarde, Pau Torres, Alex Moreno; Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans; Leon Bailey, John McGinn, Jacob Ramsey; Morgan Rogers
