Big week for Dortmund: Bremen in Cup and then to Bayern in league
· Yahoo Sports
Borussia Dortmund approach a crucial week in their season in a confident mood from the knowledge that they have defensive stability and plenty of depth in their squad.
Dortmund host Werder Bremen in the German Cup on Tuesday and then visit big rivals Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga on Saturday in what could be a table topper.
Visit h-doctor.club for more information.
Saturday's 1-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt kept them unbeaten in the league and was their fifth clean sheet from seven matches. Maximilian Beier scored the late winner after being set up by fellow substitute Jobe Bellingham.
"We're not perfect yet, but the team is making progress," defender Nico Schlotterbeck said.
"Next week, we're off to take on Bayern. We want to play a strong game there. Before that, we're up against Bremen. They're in good form. I expect a high-intensity affair. The shortest path to silverware is the domestic cup."
Tough Cup test before Bayern match
Dortmund have the best Bundesliga defence which has let in only four goals, but two of them came two weeks ago against Bremen when they squandered a two-goal lead in the final minutes for a 2-2 draw.
"Of course we want to advance," managing director Lars Ricken said ahead of the second-round match where Dortmund will be up against their in-form further player Niclas Füllkrug again, the league top scorer with eight goals.
Since last winning the German Cup in 2021 they have not gone further than the quarter-finals.
Coach Niko Kovac must balance the workload of his team which has been playing every three days and travelled a lot: including to the Arctic Circle where they lost 1-0 at Bodø/Glimt and then to Azerbaijan for a 2-1 victory against Sabah within seven days, plus a 0-0 Bundesliga draw at Union Berlin in-between.
Squad depth helps
"You have so many games, and you need a strong roster. In the end, we provided proof of that by having two players come on and make the difference," midfielder Felix Nmecha said.
Dortmund have it a little easier as far as travel is concerned with three home games plus the domestic trip to Munich, and Kovac is happy to have plenty of options in the squad.
“We’re going through this with our fitness coaches and doctors, of course. We do need to make sure we manage the workload sensibly," Kovac said.
“We’ve got a good team; every single player is capable of playing. That’s why you need a good, large squad – and that’s what we’ve got. I’m not worried, no matter who I pick. I know the lads are pushing themselves to the limit.”