The Borussia Dortmund first team have three Bundesliga games coming up in March, and one in the Champions League too. After the record-breaking game at the Westfalenhalle, another highlight awaits the Black & Yellow handballers in the EHF European League, while the U19s’ UEFA Youth League journey continues and the BVB women will play their rescheduled Westfalenpokal tie.

Friday 3 March (20:30 CET): BVB vs. Rasenballsport Leipzig
BVB will begin March with a home game, with the Black & Yellows set to kick off Bundesliga Matchday 23 against Leipzig in front of a sold-out stadium on Friday evening. Borussia have a score to settle from the reverse fixture, which they lost by a 3-0 scoreline in September. And the two teams will meet for the third time this season shortly afterwards, with a place in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals to be determined in Leipzig on 5 April.

Tuesday 7 March (21:00 CET): Chelsea vs. BVB
By winning the first leg against Chelsea 1-0 in February, BVB have put themselves in a good position to qualify for the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals away from home. BVB coach Edin Terzic said after the match: “We’ve only taken a step. We only have a slight advantage heading to London.” Borussia Dortmund have already played many times in the English capital in their long history, but this will be the first time the Black & Yellows have been to Stamford Bridge.

Wednesday 8 March (19:30 CET): BVB Women vs. VfL Bochum
That will be followed a day later by the rescheduled Westfalenpokal quarter-final, which had to be cancelled due to adverse weather conditions in February. When the BVB Women welcome VfL Bochum to the Youth Stadium in Brackel for their Westfalenpokal clash, the Regionalliga side from our neighbouring city will be the favourites. “VfL Bochum are a top opponent, we’ll be outsiders,” said coach Thomas Sulewski of the biggest match in the history of Borussia’s women’s football team, adding: “Our preparation will be top.” 

Saturday 11 March (18:30 CET): FC Schalke 04 vs. BVB
There will be a derby in Gelsenkirchen for the first time in over two years, with BVB beating FC Schalke 4-0 in the last edition in February 2021. The reverse clash was also won by Dortmund, Youssoufa Moukoko scoring the sole goal in a 1-0 win in September. The two teams will now meet in the top-match slot on Matchday 24.

Tuesday/Wednesday 14/15 March: U19s vs. Hajduk Split
Borussia Dortmund’s U19s have sensationally reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Youth League after Mike Tullberg’s team eliminated favourites Paris Saint-Germain in a penalty shootout. BVB will take on Hajduk Split at home in the quarter-finals on 14/15 March. The Croats ran out surprise 2-1 victors against Manchester City.

Saturday 18 March (18:30 CET): BVB vs. 1. FC Cologne
The first team will play another match at 18:30 CET on a Saturday when 1. FC Cologne make the trip to Dortmund. BVB initially took a 1-0 lead in the reverse fixture, but Cologne hit back with a quick three-goal salvo to make it 3-1. BVB could only reduce that lead to 3-2 thanks to a Cologne own goal. The return fixture will be Borussia’s final competitive match in March, before the players then link up with their countries for international duty.

Sunday 19 March (18:00 CET): Neptunes de Nantes vs. BVB Women 
A record-breaking crowd of more than 11,000 spectators was at the Westfalenhalle to see the Borussia Dortmund women’s handballers win their EHF European League group by beating Siofok KC. Now they are up against French outfit Neptunes de Nantes in the quarter-finals. “I think that Nantes have similar quality to Besancon. They’ll be two games between equals, the chances are 50-50. They possess a good handballing team, whereas French teams mostly tend to stand out on a physical level,” said sporting director Andreas Kuno. 

Sunday 26 March (16:00 CET): BVB Women vs. Neptunes de Nantes
The return leg against the French will follow a week later. “We will play the return fixture at the Westpress-Arena in Hamm. Like in the group stages; we’ve already had good experiences there,” explained deputy head of department Rupert Thiele. Should BVB prevail in the quarter-finals, they will reach the EHF European League Finals in Graz, Austria on 13/14 May.
Christina Reinke