Borussia Dortmund host Werder Bremen in the DFB-Pokal second round, marking their second meeting this month. Niko Kovac’s side enters the clash seeking a third consecutive victory across all competitions, buoyed by Serhou Guirassy’s brace in Baku and Maximilian Beier’s late winner against Eintracht Frankfurt. With the “Der Klassiker” against FC Bayern looming later in the week, a victory here would secure significant momentum for the Black and Whites before the high-stakes domestic showdown.
Kovac seeks cup redemption as Füllkrug’s Werder aim for European return
Despite a heavy Bundesliga opener against Freiburg, Werder Bremen have shown resilience, suffering only one defeat since then in a 7-0 friendly loss to Twente. Manager Daniel Thioune’s squad is powered by Niclas Füllkrug, who is in prolific form following his two penalty strikes against Mainz. The Green and Whites are not just fighting for a deep cup run but also positioning themselves for a potential return to European competition, having been eliminated by Arminia Bielefeld in the last two seasons.
For Kovac, this match carries personal stakes as he aims to break his recent DFB-Pokal jinx. The coach has won the trophy with both Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayern Munich but has failed to advance past the Round of 16 in his last three attempts with Wolfsburg and Dortmund. With both teams looking to consolidate their domestic standing, this Tuesday’s fixture promises a tactical battle where Dortmund’s attacking depth meets Bremen’s clinical finishing.
Source: Yahoo Sports
