Borussia Dortmund’s U23s will be in action in Saxony on Saturday afternoon, as the Black and Yellows travel to play FC Erzgebirge Aue in the Drittliga. Kick-off is at 14:00 CET.
The most recent trip to Aue for the U23s is just under half a year ago – and the players are likely to have good memories of their trip there. In May, BVB headed to the former mining city needing just a point to make it mathematically certain that they would stay up in the Drittliga – and that’s exactly what they got after an action-packed match finished 3-3.
Dortmund coach Jan Zimmermann still has fond memories of that Monday evening: “That was one of the coolest games – there is a great atmosphere in Aue. Games like that are the reason we want be in the 3. Liga.” That day, Paul Besong was still in the Aue jersey, scoring two goals and was named man of the match. In the summer, the striker moved to Dortmund, but will miss the first meeting between the two sides this season due to a knee injury.
Both teams currently sit in the higher end of the middle of the table. Aue are currently seventh, one point and three places ahead of BVB. The Black and Yellows are looking to end an unfortunate run in Aue: Dortmund are yet to claim victory in the four previous games in Saxony (two draws, two defeats). “Aue are a very experienced and robust team that have very talented individuals,” said Zimmermann about his side’s next opponents. After the last international break – during which his young charges were able to enjoy a few days off – the Dortmund coach is hoping that the team will have been able to “consolidate our processes further”. He is hoping they can “create even more goal threat” out of the good situations in front of the opposition’s goal.
Zimmermann can draw on more experience in Aue than before the international break, as Michael Eberwein is available again after his suspension for picking up multiple yellow cards, and Antonios Papadopoulos is back fit again. “This will give us even more stability, and in particular it will also give us some more options,” said the coach, who was delighted about the pair’s return. However, Marcel Lotka, who is serving a suspension for picking up a straight red card, is still missing and this time is joined by Samuel Bamba, who was sent off for two yellow card offences in the last match.
Daniel Mertens