Borussia Dortmund vs Werder Bremen Preview: Team News & Prediction

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The first Bundesliga fixture post-international break sees Borussia Dortmund host Werder Bremen.

Kick-off date/time: 9 October 2026 at 7:30 pm

How to watch on TV: UK – BBC iPlayer / USA – ESPN

How to watch online: UK – BBC Sport website & iPlayer / USA – ESPN+

Borussia Dortmund preview: Top of the table

Borussia Dortmund are the only Bundesliga side to be perfect at the beginning of this season. Four games played and four wins for Niko Kovac’s side with arguably their most impressive being a 0-1 triumph away at Stuttgart last time out. Serhou Guirassy and Fabio Silva both have two goals to their name with the former also registering two assists.

Whilst Kovac’s men have conceded just twice, their total of nine goals scored is the least of the entire current top six. Defence has been getting the job done for this team with three clean sheets in their four matches played. 

Werder Bremen preview: In good form

Werder Bremen entered the international break in a good place, having picked up seven points from the last nine available to them. Since being thrashed 4-1 by Freiburg, Werder have defeated RB Leipzig and Augsburg, whilst also picking up a point away at FC Cologne. Both those victories came at home however, so proving themselves on the road is essential.

The backline of Werder are averaging two goals conceded per game, whilst they have scored only one goal less than Borussia Dortmund over the course of this Bundesliga campaign so far. But containing the likes of Guirassy and Silva will be a big challenge here.

Borussia Dortmund team news: Schlotterbeck KO

Defender Nico Schlotterbeck rolling his ankle in training whilst on Germany duty saw him damage a ligament and more than likely rule him out of this game, so Gadou should start alongside Anton and Bensebaini.

Predicted XI (3-4-3): Kobel; Gadou, Anton, Bensebaini; Ryerson, Veerman, Nmecha, Svensson; Karetsas, Guirassy, Silva

Unavailable: Can (Injured), Konstantelias (Injured), Lerma (Injured), Mane (Injured)

Questionable: Schlotterbeck (Injured)

Werder Bremen team news: Plenty of doubts

Werder Bremen will check on the likes of Cedric Itten, Senne Lynen and Moussa Ndiaye ahead of this match, with Felix Agu, Jens Stage and Justin Njinmah among those already ruled out.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Hein; Arthur, Pieper, Friedl, Deman; Regeer, Reis; Dinkci, Chuki, Grull; Fullkrug

Unavailable: Agu (Injured), Musah (Injured), Njinmah (Injured), Stage (Injured), Topp (Injured)

Questionable: Itten (Injured), Lynen (Injured), Ndiaye (Injured)

Borussia Dortmund vs Werder Bremen prediction

You would expect Borussia Dortmund at home to dominate the majority of this game, although they’ll need to be on guard against Werder Bremen and the counter-attack in particular. The visitors will have their hands full trying to contain the Dortmund frontline and it’s difficult not to see Guirassy in particular having a big part to play.

In the end, the quality of this Dortmund side should see them do enough to overpower the visitors over the course of 90 minutes and backing them to pick up another three points with Guirassy getting on the scoresheet at some point has to be favoured.

Borussia Dortmund vs Werder Bremen tip: Borussia Dortmund to win and Serhou Guirassy to score anytime