Borussia Dortmund vs Werder Bremen opens Bundesliga Matchday 5 on Friday night. The league leaders, who have won every game so far, host a Werder side having its best start in years. Below you’ll find the kick-off time, team news, form, head-to-head record and our score prediction.
Match Details: Dortmund vs Werder Bremen
- Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 5
- Date: Friday, 9 October 2026
- Kick-off: 20:30 CEST (7:30pm BST / 7:30pm WAT / 2:30pm ET)
- Venue: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund
- TV: Sky in Germany
Dortmund vs Werder Bremen Preview
The Bundesliga is back after a long international break, and this game sends two teams with momentum straight into each other. Niko Kovac’s Dortmund arrive top of the table and have won all four of their league matches. Their last outing was a 1-0 win at VfB Stuttgart on 19 September, their fourth straight league victory.
Defence has driven the run. Dortmund have let in only two goals in four games and kept three clean sheets, while scoring nine. That makes them the only Bundesliga side with four wins from four.
Werder Bremen can’t be written off. Seven points from four games is their best opening since returning to the Bundesliga in 2022, and that comes after a 15th-place finish last season. Their most recent result was a 3-2 win over Augsburg, and they are now unbeaten in three league games, a run they hadn’t managed at any point earlier in 2026.
The contrast is clear: Werder average two goals scored per game but also concede two, so their attack will be tested against the best defence in the league.
There’s a storyline up front too. Werder coach Daniel Thioune spent part of his press conference on Niclas Füllkrug’s return to his former club.
Borussia Dortmund Team News
Kovac has more injury doubts than he would like after the break. In his view, the long international break, with some players playing up to four matches, was too much.
- Nico Schlotterbeck (doubtful): The defender picked up an injury while training with Germany, though it doesn’t appear to need a long layoff. Kovac said it is possible he plays, but he doesn’t want to rush him.
- Julian Ryerson (doubtful): He took a knock playing for Norway and left the squad early. Since Yan Couto moved to Como, Dortmund have no natural alternative at right wing-back. Maximilian Beier, who has been used more as a wing-back recently, is the likely stand-in.
- Konstantinos Karetsas and Daniel Svensson: both came back from international duty with colds.
- Carney Chukwuemeka: has a minor muscle problem.
Kovac also singled out Waldemar Anton as central to the team. Rotation is a factor as well: Dortmund play eight games this month.
Werder Bremen Team News
Werder’s injury list is longer. Felix Agu, Skelly Alvero, Senne Lynen, Jens Stage, Justin Njinmah, Salim Musah, Keke Topp and Moussa Ndiaye will not travel to Dortmund. That leaves Thioune without eight first-team players.
There is some good news. Striker Cedric Itten is back from Switzerland duty after a knock to his foot, although Thioune admitted he isn’t at full sharpness. In goal, Karl Hein was due to return to full training on Thursday, and Thioune said he expects him to play. Marco Friedl captains the side for a fifth season.
Dortmund vs Werder Bremen Head-to-Head
History is firmly on Dortmund’s side. In the last six meetings, Dortmund have won four and drawn two, and Werder have not won once.
Recent results: Werder 0-2 Dortmund (May 2026), Dortmund 3-0 Werder (January 2026), Dortmund 2-2 Werder (January 2025), Werder 0-0 Dortmund (August 2024) and Werder 1-2 Dortmund (March 2024).
Key Stats
- Dortmund: 4 wins from 4, 9 goals scored, 2 conceded, 3 clean sheets
- Werder: 7 points from 4, unbeaten in their last 3 league games
- Werder are winless in their last 6 games against Dortmund
- One data model rates the chances at 55% Dortmund win, 29% draw, 16% Werder win
Dortmund vs Werder Bremen Prediction
Dortmund have the better defence, home advantage and a strong head-to-head record. Werder’s eight absences make this trip even harder. Werder do score regularly, though, and Dortmund’s fitness doubts after the break could leave the door open for a goal.
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Werder Bremen
Best angles: Dortmund to win, and both teams to score.
FAQs
What time is Dortmund vs Werder Bremen? Kick-off is 20:30 CEST on Friday, 9 October 2026, which is 7:30pm in the UK and Nigeria.
Where is Dortmund vs Werder Bremen being played? At Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund.
Who is injured for Dortmund vs Werder Bremen? Dortmund are sweating on Schlotterbeck, Ryerson and Chukwuemeka. Werder are without eight players, including Agu, Stage, Lynen and Njinmah.
Who has won more Dortmund vs Werder Bremen games recently? Dortmund. They are unbeaten in the last six meetings, with four wins and two draws.
