Borussia Dortmund has revealed its probable lineup for the Bundesliga season opener against Hamburger SV. According to a report by sports magazine Kicker on August 28, 2026, head coach Niko Kovac will field several new faces in the starting eleven.
The team finished the previous season as runners-up with 73 points from 34 games and a goal difference of +36. The new campaign now kicks off with a home match against HSV, who finished 13th in last season's final table. The full schedule can be found on our fixtures page.
Who starts for Borussia Dortmund?
Gregor Kobel is in goal as usual. The back four in front of him is expected to be Joane Gadou, Waldemar Anton, Ramy Bensebaini, and Julian Ryerson. Joey Veerman and Felix Nmecha are slated for the midfield, with Daniel Svensson and Konstantinos Karetsas on the flanks. The attack will feature Giannis Konstantelias and Serhou Guirassy. Kicker reports that Veerman and Konstantelias are highly likely to move into the starting lineup. Otherwise, the team is largely set, although Daniel Svensson and Julian Ryerson could start on opposite sides.
Which players are missing through injury?
The personnel issues are concentrated in defense and defensive midfield. Captain Emre Can is out with a cruciate ligament rupture. Centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck is unavailable with a medial collateral ligament injury. These absences force Kovac to adjust. The bench includes Alexander Meyer, Jobe Bellingham, Marcel Sabitzer, and Maximilian Beier among others. Patrick Drewes, Enzo Duarte, Mussa Kaba, and Silas Ostrzinski are reportedly not under consideration. The current injury status can be tracked in our injuries overview.
How is opponent Hamburger SV lining up?
HSV coach Merlin Polzin is expected to stick with a 3-4-2-1 system. Goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes is protected by a back three of Nicolas Capaldo, Sebastiaan Bornauw, and Jordan Torunarigha. Bakery Jatta and Louis Lemke are likely to take the wing positions, with Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nicolai Remberg forming the defensive midfield. The attacking midfield spots behind striker Patson Daka should be filled by Martin Adeline and Albert Grönbaek Erlykke. A starting role comes too early for new signing Terem Moffi. The injured absentees are Miro Muheim (training deficit), Warmed Omari (shoulder), and Alexander Rössing-Lelesiit (build-up training).
What does this mean for the season opener?
For Borussia Dortmund, the aim is to build on a strong previous season where they finished 16 points behind champions Bayern Munich. Starting the new campaign directly with this lineup is a test of the squad's depth. The absence of key players like Can and Schlotterbeck requires early solutions. The team's overall performances are detailed in our stats section. A win on the opening day would be an important signal for the ambitions in the new season.
