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Played
August 25, 2012 2:30 AM SGT
Signal-Iduna-Park — Dortmund
Referee:‬ F. Zwayer‎
Attendance:‬ 80645‎
 

Borussia Dortmund - Werder Bremen Preview: Champions get new season under way with tricky home fixture

Jurgen Klopp's men get their title defence started by entertaining the Weserstadion outfit, who have brought in several new faces as they prepare for an assault on the top four

By Enis Koylu

Borussia Dortmund Bundesliga
Bongarts
  PROBABLE LINEUPS


BORUSSIA DORTMUND


Weidenfeller
Kirch, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer
Gundogan, Kehl
Kuba, Reus, Grosskreutz
Lewandowski

WERDER BREMEN

Mielitz
Gebre Selassie, Prodl, Sokratis, Ignjovski
Junuzovic, Fritz
De Bruyne, Hunt, Elia
Petersen

The big news for Borussia Dortmund is that star playmaker Mario Gotze will not be fit in time to take his place in the starting line-up as he continues his recovery from an eye infection, leaving Jakub 'Kuba' Blaszczykowski to continue on the right wing.

Jurgen Klopp has also been dealt a fresh injury blow in the form of Lukasz Piszczek, who has sustained a thigh strain, and missed training on Wednesday. Oliver Kirch is expected to fill in for the Poland defender, due in part to Kevin Grosskreutz being required on the wing thanks to Gotze's lack of fitness. Despite sustaining an injury in Germany's recent friendly against Argentina, Mats Hummels is confident of playing against Thomas Schaaf's men.

Elsewhere, Sebastian Kehl made his comeback from injury in last week's 3-0 DFB-Pokal win against Oberneuland, allowing him to slot in alongside Ilkay Gundogan in the deep-lying midfield positions. Sven Bender remains sidelined as he recovers from hernia surgery.

After a summer of change at the Weserstadion, Thomas Schaaf is set to name a completely different starting line-up to the one that featured for his team last season.

Tim Wiese has left the club for Hoffenheim, leaving his former understudy, Sebastian Mielitz to take his place between the sticks, with Theodor Gebre Selassie slotting in at right-back alongside established defenders Sebastian Prodl, Sokratis and Aleksandar Ignjovski.

Elsewhere, Kevin De Bruyne, Nils Petersen and Eljero Elia should come into the team after their respective summer moves from Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Juventus, though the Dutchman has been struggling with a foot injury and could be replaced by Marko Arnautovic. Levent Aycicek has been struggling with a knee problem, and has been ruled out of the trip to Signal Iduna Park.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Borussia Dortmund come into this match on the back of a 28-match unbeaten run which helped them recover from a shaky start to clinch a second consecutive Bundesliga title.
  • Jurgen Klopp's side also featured in the first game of last season, beating Hamburg 3-1, with Mario Gotze (pictured) on form.
  • BVB have come out on top in their last five home Bundesliga meetings with Werder Bremen, last losing in 2006-07
  • Theodor Gebre Selassie, Kevin De Bruyne, Eljero Elia and Nils Petersen are all set to make their first Bundesliga appearances for Werder Bremen.
  • Thomas Schaaf is set to start his 15th season in charge of the club. He helped stave off the threat of relegation in his first game in charge - the last fixture of the 1998-1999 campaign.
  • Bremen were pipped to the 1994-1995 Bundesliga by Borussia Dortmund, finishing a mere point behind the champions.


Field Report
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Germany - 1. Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎ Mar 17, 2012 Borussia Dortmund 1 - Werder Bremen 0
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Last Five Matches
Odds
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Returns: Werder Bremen 95.00 Ladbrokes Sign up with Ladbrokes for a free bet up to $100
Team News
Available Squads
1Roman WeidenfellerGoalkeeper
4Neven SuboticDefender
15Mats HummelsDefender
29Marcel SchmelzerDefender
5Sebastian KehlMidfielder
8Ilkay GündoganMidfielder
16Jakub BlaszczykowskiMidfielder
19Kevin GroßkreutzMidfielder
21Oliver KirchMidfielder
9Robert LewandowskiStriker
11Marco ReusMidfielder
20Mitchell LangerakGoalkeeper
24Chris LöweDefender
27Felipe SantanaDefender
7Moritz LeitnerMidfielder
10Mario GötzeMidfielder
14Ivan PerisicMidfielder
23Julian SchieberStriker
1Sebastian MielitzGoalkeeper
8Clemens FritzDefender
15Sebastian PrödlDefender
22Sokratis PapastathopoulosDefender
23Theodor Gebre SelassieDefender
6Kevin De BruyneMidfielder
11Eljero EliaMidfielder
14Aaron HuntMidfielder
16Zlatko JunuzovicMidfielder
17Aleksandar IgnjovskiMidfielder
7Marko ArnautovicStriker
20Raphael WolfGoalkeeper
5Assani LukimyaDefender
13Lukas SchmitzDefender
10Mehmet EkiciMidfielder
44Philipp BargfredeMidfielder
24Nils PetersenStriker
41Niclas FüllkrugStriker
Prediction
Editor's Prediction
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Stefan Kießling Stefan Kießling
Striker
Leverkusen
25 4
Robert  Lewandowski Robert Lewandowski
Striker
Dortmund
24 1
Alexander Meier Alexander Meier
Midfielder
Eintracht Frankfurt
17 3
Vedad Ibisevic Vedad Ibisevic
Striker
VfB Stuttgart
15 5
Mario Mandzukic Mario Mandzukic
Striker
Bayern
15 0