Werder Take The Trip To Dortmund

First Team
Thursday, 13.09.2007 / 11:49

It’s always something exceptional with Borusia Dortmund. Between 1992 and 2003 the club celebrated some of the greatest moments in their history but since then BVB have simply slipped out of the spotlight.

It’s always something exceptional with Borusia Dortmund. Between 1992 and 2003 the club celebrated some of the greatest moments in their history but since then BVB have simply slipped out of the spotlight. The club possess the largest and undeniably most impressive stadium in the Bundesliga but have amazingly only won 22 of the 51 games they’ve played there in the last three years (Werder at the Weser won 32 of theirs). After a period including a Champion league win, three league titles, their launch on the stock exchange and some spectacular headlines, BVB have now become a very run-of-the-mill Bundesliga side.

 

BVB in 2006/2007 – the downs and ups

 

Werder coach Thomas Schaaf commented ahead of his sides trip to Dortmund on Friday, 14.09.2007 (8:30pm kick-off): “We can expect a tough match.” BVB’s most recent results have shown the side sway wildly in form – as was the problem last season too. The Yellow-Blacks finished up in ninth place last season but did at one point find themselves back in 17th and looking nervously at the leagues trap door. An impressive run in towards the end of the season saw BVB beat Berlin, Frankfurt, Wolfsburg and Schalke without conceding a goal – the win against Schalke effectively ended their title dreams. And this season? Much of the same!! The team was padded out with the signings of Robert Kovac, Mladen Petric, Diego Klimowicz, Giovanni Federico and Jakub Blaszcykowski (whilst seeing Ebi Smolarek and Christoph Metzelder depart) and made a goot tart to their pre-season preparations. The season didn’t quite get going as had been planned. Newly promoted Duisburg won 3:1 to take all three points away from the Signal Iduna Park and Schalke rubbed hefty measures of salt into gaping wounds, beating Borussia 4:1. Since that trainer Thomas Doll’s men have hit back with a 3:0 win over a poor Cottbus side and a lucky 1:0 in Rostock against Hansa.

 

Again Dortmund’s problems at home have been exposed. BVB won just six of their home games last season and then the disaster start against Duisburg. Still, no one is too troubled at the club and those in the know are aware as to exactly how strong Dortmund can return from a set back: “They had some nail-biting moments against Rostock in the last game but rode out the pressure”, noted Thomas Schaaf and continued: “Now they will do all in their power to put themselves back in a positive light in front of their own fans – we will have to be wary of that.” Back on the 29th match day of last season in April, Werder looked to be quite at home in the then Westfalenstadion. A lesser quality eleven comfortably won 2:0 with goals from Miroslav Klose and a fantastic Diego free-kick. In 39 Bundesliga meetings in Dortmund, it was only Werder’s ninth win there but three of those wins were in the last five meetings. The host have won on 21 occasions.

 

International interruption

 

Whilst Dortmund have been struggling at home, the Green-Whites have been solidifying their away record (last season’s best side on the road) with four points in two games. Werder have steadied the ship with three consecutive wins after a shaky start. Despite the international break, Werder won’t forget three wins in a week against Nuremberg, Zagreb and Frankfurt: “We went into the break on the back of some positive results and that leaves us with a good feeling”, stated trainer Schaaf.

 

BVB were successful before the break too but their coach Thomas Doll is still sweating as calm is beginning to settle over the Werder camp: “They have a number of injuries to deal with. Alexander Frei is injured and won’t be available. Aside from that they’ve had players on international duty and the likes of Nelson Valdez will be late rejoining his colleagues. The ex-Bremen man, as well as Delron Buckley, won’t be back until match day. Frei, who scored 16 goals last season is out with a muscle sinew tear, the same injury plaguing Dede. Philipp Degen is out with an abdominal problem and first choice keeper Roman Weidenfeller is still suspended after being accused of racial abuse against Gerald Asamoah from Schalke. BVB trainer Thomas Doll is a battler though: “The team not hiding behind excuses will have the advantage on Friday, Bremen have the same problems that we do.”

 

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