Borussia Dortmund are aiming for a response at Union Berlin this Saturday following their recent Champions League disappointment. The Bundesliga away fixture in the capital is scheduled for 15:30 local time on October 17th.
Current Form and Table
Dortmund sit second in the Bundesliga with 13 points from five games. They will be looking to defend this strong position after a 1-0 defeat away to Bodo/Glimt in Europe. Their last five competitive matches have yielded three wins, one draw, and that single loss. Union Berlin, in contrast, are in crisis after heavy defeats to Bayern Munich (0-7) and Schalke (1-3), leaving them 16th in the table.
Recent Lineups
Dortmund deployed a 3-4-2-1 formation in the Champions League, with goalkeeper Kobel protected by a back three of Kouakou Joane Gadou, Anton and Bensebaïni. Bellingham and Veerman operated in midfield. Union Berlin's last starting XI in a 4-2-3-1 against Elversberg featured Frederik Rønnow in goal and players like Haberer and Khedira.
The objective for Dortmund is clear: to end a one-game goalless run with a victory in Berlin and maintain pressure on the teams above them. The next fixture on the calendar is precisely this clash at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
Following the 1-0 defeat to Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League on October 14, coach Niko Kovac criticized his team's lack of passion. "We didn't bring enough passion today," said Kovac. Captain Waldemar Anton called for self-criticism from the squad. The loss in Norway was the first competitive defeat of the season after the Super Cup. The Bundesliga record of the second-placed team remains strong with 13 points from five games.
Update, 17 October 2026 Borussia Dortmund could only manage a 0-0 draw in their Bundesliga away game at Union Berlin. The point was enough for the club to move provisionally top of the table with 14 points. Striker Konstantinos Karetsas injured his ankle after coming on as a substitute and had to be replaced after just eight minutes.
