Borussia Dortmund has been drawn against Bundesliga rivals SV Werder Bremen in the second round of the DFB-Pokal. The draw took place on Saturday evening at the German Football Museum in Dortmund.
The second-round matches are scheduled for October 27 and 28. The cup final will be held on May 29, 2027, in Berlin. Bayern Munich legend and ARD expert Bastian Schweinsteiger conducted the draw for the Bundesliga matchups. For BVB, the tie against Bremen represents the first real challenge in this season's competition, after all 18 top-flight clubs survived the first round, a first since the 2008/09 season.
Borussia Dortmund started the new Bundesliga season with a win and currently sits in fifth place in the table. From one game, the team has three points and a goal difference of +2. The next task is already on September 12 with a home match against 12th-placed SC Paderborn 07. Ahead of that game, BVB must cope without several injured players. Giannis Konstantelias, Justin Lerma, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Ramy Bensebaini are currently sidelined.
While Dortmund faces Bremen, record champions Bayern Munich arguably got the luckier draw. The Bavarians will host second-division side 1. FC Magdeburg at the Allianz Arena. Magdeburg, a traditional club from the 2. Bundesliga, remains an unpredictable opponent. The complete overview of all upcoming BVB matches, including the cup tie, can be found in our fixtures calendar.
For Borussia Dortmund, the draw means an away trip to Bremen. The Weserstadion is a challenging arena where Werder is traditionally strong. Bremen also started their season with three points and will be a tough test for the Black and Yellows. The match promises to be a classic Bundesliga clash in the middle of the cup season. For Bayern, home advantage against Magdeburg is a clear benefit, but cup upsets are always possible.
Before the cup resumes in October, Borussia Dortmund is fully focused on the Bundesliga. The team under coach Nenad Bjelica aims to carry the positive momentum from the season opener. A look at the standings shows the table is still very tight and every point counts. The direct duel against Werder Bremen in the second cup round is expected to take place on October 27 or 28.
