The next BVB highlight will follow the day after the Bundesliga Ruhr derby, with the U23s set to go up against Dynamo Dresden in the 3. Liga on Sunday (15:00 CET). The match will take place at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK.

There is a tricky opponent in store for the BVB U23s on Matchday 26 of the 3. Liga season: Dynamo Dresden are not only a renowned and tradition-steeped club, but the third-strongest team in the second half-season too. The side from Saxony have not lost any of their fixtures in the second half of the campaign, taking 14 out of a possible 18 points. Dynamo’s last defeat to date came on 8 November, when they lost 1-0Pre-match report in Wiesbaden.

But the U23s, who lost 1-0 to the SC Freiburg reserves nine days earlier, will not shy away from the task at hand. The Dortmund youngsters will be aiming to come away from the latest edition of this all-Black & Yellow encounter with something tangible, having lost the reverse fixture 3-0 at the start of September.

Coach Jan Zimmermann believes the increased intensity from his charges in the Breisgau in the last round will provide the basis for a successful performance, saying: “We need more courage and more confidence in possession and have to be more disciplined with our work off the ball.”

His charges will be aiming to harness positive energy from the atmosphere at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. “The conditions are definitely a bit more exciting and there will be a different atmosphere with more spectators,” said Zimmermann, who then issued a call to his players: “The lads should use that as an incentive.” That aside, the venue does not make much of a difference. “We’ll also prepare like we do for any other match.”

The BVB coach believes the opposition from Dresden have “an above-average squad for the 3. Liga in some positions”. But at the same time, Zimmermann declared ahead of his fifth game as U23 coach: “We want to get the three points.”

While the visitors are looking towards promotion following their recent run of success, the U23s need points in the battle for survival. A decent result against Dresden would also give the team self-confidence before the important relegation six-pointer against VfB Oldenburg in Hanover on Wednesday.

The Black & Yellows will definitely be without a trio of players for Sunday’s game: Dennis Lütke-Frie, Guille Bueno and Timo Bornemann are not yet fit. Ole Pohlmann, who has recently been in a good form and has scored three times in his last four appearances, could return to the fold following his recent enforced absence in Freiburg.