As usual, BVB are preparing for the upcoming Bundesliga season in Bad Ragaz. Test matches, Asia tour: all dates at a glance.
After a season full of ups and downs, Borussia Dortmund will begin preparations for the new season on Wednesday, July 10. A disappointing performance in the Bundesliga and the DFB Cup was contrasted by a surprising run to the final of the Champions League. Following the surprising departure of Edin Terzic, long-time BVB professional Nuri Sahin, who most recently worked as an assistant coach in Dortmund, will lead the first session as head coach at the start of training. In preparation, Sahin will be busy laying the foundations for a more consistent Bundesliga season. The Bundesliga kicks off on the weekend of August 23-25. When the German Football League (DFL) publishes the match schedule on Thursday, July 4, it will also be clear who Borussia’s first opponent will be.
Test matches in Bangkok on trip to Asia
However, it is already known when the performance diagnostics and the subsequent start of training will take place. On Wednesday, July 10, the ball will roll for the first time in Brackel. The first test match is scheduled for a little later. The first match will be against a Dortmund amateur soccer team (Friday, July 12). On the following Wednesday (July 17), second division team Aue will be the opponent. On Friday, July 19, the team will then travel to Asia, where they will spend a total of six days. Two test matches are also planned. The first will be against Pathum United in Bangkok on Sunday, July 21. Three days later (July 24), BVB will face Cerezo Osaka, the current club of ex-Borussian Shinji Kagawa, in Japan.
The training camp will then take place as usual in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland, from Thursday, August 1, to Friday, August 9. On Tuesday, August 6, BVB will test there against Spanish first division side FC Villareal. The final highlight of the preparations will be the match against Premier League club Aston Villa under coach Unai Emery. This will take place as part of the official season opener at the BVB Stadium on Saturday, August 10 (5 p.m.).
The summer preparations at a glance:
July 10: Performance diagnostics and start of training
July 12: Test match against DEW21 selection (6 p.m. Montanhydraulik Stadium, Holzwickede)
July 17: Test match at Erzgebirge Aue (6 p.m., Erzgebirgsstadion, Aue)
July 19-25: Asia tour
July 21: Test match at BG Pathum United (8 p.m. local time, 3 p.m. CEST)
July 24: Test match against Cerezo Osaka (12:15 p.m. Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan)
August 1-9: Training camp in Bad Ragaz
August 6: Test match against Villarreal CF (CASHPOINT Arena, Altach, Austria)
August 10: Season opener including test match against Aston Villa (5 p.m., Signal-Iduna Park, Dortmund)
August 17: 1st DFB Cup round against 1. FC Phönix Lübeck (6 p.m., venue still open)
August 23-25: Matchday 1 in the Bundesliga (opponent still to be determined)