Borussia Dortmund to host Werder Bremen in Friday Bundesliga clash at Westfalenstadion

Borussia Dortmund host Werder Bremen at the Westfalenstadion in a Bundesliga match on Friday night as both clubs return from the September-October international break. Dortmund will aim to extend their strong start to the campaign while Bremen look to build on recent positive results.

Dortmund have won all four of their opening matches of the season, keeping three clean sheets in that run. The squad faces a number of fitness uncertainties: Julian Ryerson, Daniel Svensson, Nico Schlotterbeck and Kostas Karetsas are doubtful with late assessments to follow, while Emre Can and Filippo Mané are confirmed absentees because of knee and thigh injuries, respectively. The hosts also carry encouraging recent records into the fixture, having lost only two of their last 10 Bundesliga meetings with Bremen on home soil and enjoying a strong record in Friday fixtures.

Werder Bremen arrive in Dortmund with eight points from their opening league fixtures and momentum after a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over FC Augsburg before the break. Marco Grüll featured prominently in that victory, scoring once and supplying two assists. Bremen will seek to shake off a heavy 7-0 friendly defeat to FC Twente as they resume competitive action.

The visitors’ availability issues were underlined by several absences: Felix Agu, Skelly Alvero, Jens Stage and Senne Lynen are ruled out, Justin Njinmah is a doubt, and Keke Topp remains sidelined with an ACL injury. Those personnel constraints could limit Marco Grüll’s supporting options for the trip to Dortmund.

Dortmund’s most recent win was a 1-0 victory over VfB Stuttgart on 19 September. Across their last five outings in all competitions they have recorded five wins, three of which ended in clean sheets.

Bremen’s last victory also came on 19 September, the 3-2 comeback against FC Augsburg. Over their past five matches across all competitions they have two wins (3-2 v Augsburg and 3-1 v RB Leipzig), two defeats (7-0 v Twente and 4-1 v SC Freiburg) and one draw (1-1 v FC Koln).

The Bundesliga fixture at the Westfalenstadion on Friday night will mark the competitive return for both clubs following the international break.