BVB II will play the next three home games at the Stadion am Zoo in Wuppertal. Defender Niklas Dams associates the “new” venue with very special memories.

Borussia Dortmund II is on the road to recovery in the 3rd Division. They recently scored in two games – including a 1-1 draw against league leaders 1860 München.

Centre-back Niklas Dams, who sets the tone as one of the most experienced players in head coach Christian Preußer’s young team, is partly a reason for the newfound defensive stability.

“I think we defended very well at the back and didn’t allow 1860 many big chances. Of course, it’s clear that they often get forward with their quality. We defended very well individually and as a team. That’s what we’ve always complained about within the team and now we’ve finally accepted it. We can definitely live with the point,” summed up the 32-year-old veteran.

Many goals conceded were simply the result of carelessness. That is punished in the league. We needed time to adapt and find a line-up with players who are ready to show what is required in the league. We are on a good path.

Niklas Dams

As in the previous season, Dams is considered indispensable for BVB II and represents one of the defensive pillars. The only thing is that the start to the season was not reminiscent of what the Black-Yellows presented last year under the guidance of successful coach Enrico Maaßen. Dams is playing in a “very young team” where mistakes at the beginning are “quite normal”. Nevertheless, he was annoyed about the sometimes inattentive behaviour in defence: “Many goals conceded were simply the result of carelessness. That is punished in the league. We needed time to adapt and find a line-up with players who are ready to show what is required in the league. We are on a good path.”

What is required in the 3rd division is “unity”. Since the Borussians have all been pulling together, the necessary points can be brought in. The mood within the team has developed in such a way that we realise that we will get our chances. But only if we all defend together and attack together. Individually, we are all great, but alone you are nothing in the league,” analysed the native Rhinelander.

BVB had to find an alternative stadium for three of the last four third league home games this year against MSV Duisburg, SC Verl and Viktoria Köln. The modernisation of the home stadium Rote Erde is delayed, Signal Iduna Park is no longer considered an option for the time being. “It was nice that we were allowed to use BVB’s big stadium. In the end, we made the best of it,” Dams told us.

Now the decision fell on the Stadion am Zoo, about 50 kilometres away. Borussia’s second team has had good experiences with the home ground of regional league team Wuppertaler SV: the decisive match for promotion to the third division in 2020/21 took place at the Bergische Löwen. Dams recalled: “Wuppertal is a good place for us in that the last promotion was fixed there. Maybe it’s a good place for us. The pitch conditions will certainly not be like those at Signal Iduna Park. It will be a new experience for all of us. There, too, we have to accept what is offered. I think we can play to our strengths there as well. “