Dortmund vs Werder Bremen is a Bundesliga matchday 5 game, played at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund on Friday 9 October 2026. This KlinPredict match preview covers kick-off details, the league table, recent form, team news, likely line-ups, key battles, head-to-head record, tactical analysis and our score prediction.
MATCH PREVIEW
Dortmund vs Werder Bremen
🕗 20:30 CEST
📍 Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund
🇩🇪 Dortmund vs Bremen 🇩🇪
Dortmund vs Werder Bremen at a Glance
Borussia Dortmund host Werder Bremen at Signal Iduna Park on Friday 9 October 2026. Kick-off is at 20:30 local time (19:30 in London and Lagos, 14:30 ET). Dortmund arrive as the Bundesliga leaders with four wins from four games, 12 points and a goal difference of +7. They are the only unbeaten team in the league. Bremen sit eighth with seven points from four games, which is their best start since they returned to the Bundesliga in 2022.
The two clubs meet twice in less than three weeks. After this league game, they face each other again at Signal Iduna Park in the second round of the DFB-Pokal on Tuesday 27 October. That adds a small tactical twist, because both coaches will know that what they show on Friday will be studied before the cup tie.
Dortmund vs Werder Bremen Match Details
| Competition | Bundesliga 2026/27, Matchday 5 |
| Date and Time | Friday 9 October 2026, 20:30 CEST (19:30 BST and WAT / 14:30 ET) |
| Venue | Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund |
| Coaches | Niko Kovač (Dortmund) · Daniel Thioune (Werder Bremen) |
| Last Meeting | Werder Bremen 0–2 Dortmund (Bundesliga, 16 May 2026) |
| Next Meeting | Dortmund vs Werder Bremen, DFB-Pokal round two, 27 October 2026, 20:45 CEST |
| Where to Watch | Live on Sky in Germany. Check your local Bundesliga broadcaster in other countries |
Bundesliga Table Before Matchday 5
| TEAM | POS | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borussia Dortmund | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 12 |
| Bayern Munich and Freiburg | 2–3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 10 each |
| Werder Bremen | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
The table shows only the rows that matter for this preview, based on the published results after matchday 4. Augsburg, Leverkusen, Mainz and Elversberg are also on seven points. At the bottom, Hamburg are 16th with three points, Union Berlin are 17th with one point and Borussia Mönchengladbach are 18th without a point. Dortmund’s lead over Bayern Munich and Freiburg is two points, so a win on Friday would keep that gap at five or more over Bremen and protect the lead before a busy October. use our widget table for updated position.
Dortmund vs Werder Bremen Form Guide
Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund have won all four league games under Niko Kovač, which is their best start since the 2015/16 season under Thomas Tuchel. They opened with a 2–0 home win over Hamburg, with goals from Serhou Guirassy and Giannis Konstantelias. They then came from 2–0 down to win 3–2 at Hoffenheim, with goals from Guirassy, Fábio Silva and an own goal. A 3–0 home win over Paderborn followed, and Felix Nmecha scored a long-range goal in that game. Most recently, Dortmund won 1–0 at Stuttgart on 19 September. Maximilian Beier scored in the 71st minute from a low cross by substitute Jobe Bellingham.
Dortmund have kept clean sheets in three of their four league games. The only goals they conceded came in the first half at Hoffenheim. Last season they finished with 73 points, their best total since 2018/19, and they have kept that level of consistency into the new campaign. The Stuttgart game also showed that they can win without playing well. Reports described a quiet first half, with Dortmund holding most of the ball but creating few clear chances before the changes around the hour mark.
| DATE | COMPETITION | RESULT |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Sep 2026 | Bundesliga, matchday 4 | Stuttgart 0–1 Dortmund |
| 12 Sep 2026 | Bundesliga, matchday 3 | Dortmund 3–0 Paderborn |
| 5 Sep 2026 | Bundesliga, matchday 2 | Hoffenheim 2–3 Dortmund |
| 29 Aug 2026 | Bundesliga, matchday 1 | Dortmund 2–0 Hamburg |
Werder Bremen
Bremen have collected seven points from their first four games, the best start since their return to the Bundesliga in 2022. They lost the opener 4–1 to Freiburg, then beat RB Leipzig 3–1 on 5 September, drew 1–1 with Köln on 12 September and beat Augsburg 3–2 on 19 September. The Augsburg game was dramatic. Niclas Füllkrug equalised in the 86th minute, and substitute Mitchell Weiser scored the winner in the 93rd minute. It was Weiser’s first goal for Bremen in 518 days.
Bremen have scored in all four league games and have eight goals, but they have also conceded eight. That tells you what kind of team they are right now. They create chances and they do not give up, but they leave space at the back. Daniel Thioune took charge in February 2026, and this is the first time his side has had a full pre-season. Before the league started, Bremen won 3–0 at lower-league side LSK Hansa in the first round of the DFB-Pokal on 22 August.
| DATE | COMPETITION | RESULT (BREMEN SCORE FIRST) |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Sep 2026 | Bundesliga, matchday 4 | Bremen 3–2 Augsburg |
| 12 Sep 2026 | Bundesliga, matchday 3 | Bremen 1–1 Köln |
| 5 Sep 2026 | Bundesliga, matchday 2 | Bremen 3–1 RB Leipzig |
| 30 Aug 2026 | Bundesliga, matchday 1 | Bremen 1–4 Freiburg |
| 22 Aug 2026 | DFB-Pokal, round one | Bremen 3–0 LSK Hansa |
Dortmund vs Werder Bremen Team News
| Dortmund — Nico Schlotterbeck | Doubtful after a lateral ligament injury to his right ankle during Germany training. He does not need surgery, but his place on Friday is not certain. He had earlier trouble with his left ankle |
| Dortmund — Julian Ryerson | Came off early for Norway against Wales around the 15th minute with no clear contact. He is the club’s only natural right-back after Yan Couto left in the summer, so his fitness matters |
| Bremen — goalkeeper | Karl-Jakob Hein returned early from Estonia duty with an adductor problem |
| Bremen — Felix Agu | Needs an MRI scan after a muscle injury in a friendly with Twente |
| General note | Both clubs had players away on international duty, so check the final squad lists and confirmed line-ups about an hour before kick-off |
The injury information comes from reports published in the first days of October. Injury news can change quickly in the week of a match, and we have left out anything that we could not confirm.
Dortmund vs Werder Bremen Likely Shapes and Key Players
| Dortmund (3-4-2-1) | Gregor Kobel in goal; Schlotterbeck and Ryerson if fit; Nmecha and Jobe Bellingham in midfield; Fábio Silva, Beier and Karetsas in the attacking areas; Serhou Guirassy as the striker |
| Bremen (4-2-3-1) | Niclas Füllkrug as the main striker, with Marco Grüll and Mitchell Weiser among the players likely to feature |
We have listed the likely formations and the key names rather than a full eleven, because both teams have injury doubts and several players were away on international duty. Dortmund play in Norway on Wednesday 14 October in the Champions League, so Kovač may also think about rotation.
Key Battles & Players to Watch in Dortmund vs Werder Bremen
| Serhou Guirassy vs Bremen’s back line | Guirassy has scored in all three of the most recent meetings with Bremen: 25 January 2025, 13 January 2026 and 16 May 2026. He has also scored in three of Dortmund’s four league games this season. |
| Niclas Füllkrug vs his old club | The striker is back at Bremen after a spell away that included time at Dortmund. It is his first game against BVB since returning, and he scored the equaliser against Augsburg. |
| Dortmund’s right side vs Bremen’s attackers | If Ryerson is not fit, Dortmund may have to change the balance on that flank, and Bremen’s quick attackers could look for that space. |
| Jobe Bellingham and Karetsas off the bench | The pair changed the game at Stuttgart, with Karetsas setting up the first shot on target and Bellingham delivering the cross for Beier’s winner. |
| Bremen’s late-game belief | Bremen scored twice in the last ten minutes to beat Augsburg. Dortmund have to stay focused until the final whistle. |
Dortmund vs Werder Bremen Tactical Analysis
Dortmund’s early-season template is simple. They keep control of the ball, use the pace of Beier and the new attackers on the flanks, and rely on Guirassy to finish. Kovač has shown he will use his bench, and the substitutes have mattered in two of the four games. At Hoffenheim, Guirassy and Silva scored within five minutes of each other to turn a 2–0 deficit around, and at Stuttgart the late changes produced the winner. That depth is a big reason why Dortmund are on 12 points.
Bremen under Thioune have been more open. They have scored at least once in every league game, and they have conceded in every league game too. Their best moments have come from quick attacks and from the energy of players such as Weiser and Füllkrug. On Friday they are likely to be more cautious, because Signal Iduna Park is one of the toughest places to go in Germany, but a team that has scored eight goals in four games will not simply sit back for 90 minutes.
Set pieces could be important. Dortmund scored the second goal in the May win at Bremen from a corner situation and a header from Guirassy, and Bremen have used long-range efforts to score against Dortmund before, as Bittencourt did in January 2025. If Dortmund control the game, a quick goal would allow them to manage the match. If the game stays level into the second half, the late-game record of both teams suggests that the final fifteen minutes could decide it.
The wild cards are fitness and fatigue. Schlotterbeck’s ankle and Ryerson’s knock could force Dortmund to change their back line, and Dortmund also play at Bodø/Glimt five days later. Bremen are fresher in terms of schedule because they have no European games. Even so, the gap in quality and squad depth still favours the hosts.
Dortmund vs Werder Bremen Head-to-Head Record
One of the three recent meetings was a draw. The record above covers the three most recent Bundesliga meetings that we could confirm from official match reports, not the full all-time record between the clubs.
| DATE | COMPETITION | RESULT |
|---|---|---|
| 16 May 2026 | Bundesliga, matchday 34 | Bremen 0–2 Dortmund |
| 13 Jan 2026 | Bundesliga, matchday 17 | Dortmund 3–0 Bremen |
| 25 Jan 2025 | Bundesliga, matchday 19 | Dortmund 2–2 Bremen |
The last two meetings were comfortable for Dortmund. In May, Guirassy scored with a header in the 60th minute, assisted by Ryerson, and Yan Couto added a second in stoppage time. Bremen goalkeeper Mio Backhaus made several saves to keep the game level until half-time. In January, Schlotterbeck, Sabitzer and Guirassy scored in a 3–0 win at Signal Iduna Park. The 2–2 draw in January 2025 is a warning for Dortmund. They were ahead 2–0 with a man extra for Bremen, as Schlotterbeck had been sent off in the 21st minute, but Bremen scored through Leonardo Bittencourt and Marvin Ducksch to level the game.
What Is at Stake in Dortmund vs Werder Bremen
For Dortmund, this is a chance to stay clear at the top of the Bundesliga before a very demanding month. The club faces seven official matches in 22 days, with trips to Bodø/Glimt, Union Berlin and Sabah in Baku between home games, and a meeting with Bayern Munich on 31 October. Winning on Friday would keep the pressure on the other title contenders and lift confidence before the Champions League trip.
For Bremen, a result in Dortmund would be a statement. They are already enjoying their best start in four years, and a point or three on the road would show that the progress is real. A defeat would not be a disaster, but it would remind them that the gap to the top clubs is still large.
| Dortmund next fixtures | Bodø/Glimt (away, Champions League, 14 Oct) · Union Berlin (away, 17 Oct) · Sabah (home, Champions League, 20 Oct) · Eintracht Frankfurt (home, 24 Oct) · Werder Bremen (home, DFB-Pokal, 27 Oct) · Bayern Munich (31 Oct) |
| Bremen next fixture after this game | Dortmund (away, DFB-Pokal, 27 Oct) |
KlinPredict Dortmund vs Werder Bremen Prediction
Dortmund have won all four league games, kept three clean sheets and beaten Bremen in both meetings last season. At home, with Guirassy in form, they should have enough quality to win. Bremen have scored in every game this season, so a goal for the visitors is possible, but the home side’s record and the way the last two meetings went point to a clean sheet. The main risks to this call are the injury doubts around Schlotterbeck and Ryerson, and the possibility of rotation before the trip to Norway.
For reference, one set of published moneyline prices before the match had Dortmund at −286, the draw at +411 and Bremen at +577. That is about 1.35, 5.11 and 6.77 in decimal odds. Prices change, so check the current market before you decide anything.
5 Key Predictions for Dortmund vs Werder Bremen
| MARKET | PREDICTION | CONFIDENCE | WHY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match result | Dortmund to win | High | Four wins from four, home advantage and two straight wins over Bremen. |
| Correct score | Dortmund 2–0 Bremen | Low | It matches the May result and Dortmund’s clean-sheet record, but exact scores are always a long shot. |
| Both teams to score | No | Low | Dortmund kept three clean sheets in four, but Bremen have scored in every game, so this is close. |
| Total goals | Over 1.5 | Medium | All four Bremen league games had at least two goals, and three of Dortmund’s four did. See our over 2.5 goals predictions for more goals markets. |
| Serhou Guirassy | Anytime goalscorer | Medium | He scored in each of the last three meetings with Bremen and in three of four league games this season. |
This prediction is based on form and team news at the time of writing, not a guarantee. Please gamble responsibly if you use match previews for betting decisions. You can follow more fixtures on our Bundesliga predictions page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Dortmund vs Werder Bremen?
Who won the last Dortmund vs Werder Bremen game?
Where are Dortmund and Bremen in the Bundesliga table?
Who coaches Dortmund and Werder Bremen?
Is Nico Schlotterbeck fit for Dortmund vs Werder Bremen?
Will Niclas Füllkrug play against Dortmund?
What is the Dortmund vs Werder Bremen head-to-head record?
Do Dortmund play Werder Bremen again soon?
Where can I watch Dortmund vs Werder Bremen?
Sources & Data Notes
This preview combines official Bundesliga and club information, match reports and published tables up to 4 October 2026. The table covers the results after matchday 4 only. Kick-off details come from the Dortmund club schedule. Injury news was taken from reports published in the first days of October and may change before kick-off. The head-to-head record covers only the three Bundesliga meetings we could confirm from official match reports, so it should not be read as an all-time record.
Data on this page is updated as new matches and official records become available. Always check the latest lineups and
team news before using this preview for time-sensitive decisions.
