Borussia Dortmund prepares for Champions League opener against Villarreal

Borussia Dortmund enters its opening UEFA Champions League match following a strong domestic start in the Bundesliga and the DFB Cup. Head coach Niko Kovac prepares his squad for the fixture despite several injury concerns, including the absence of Filippo Mane, Giannis Konstantelias, Emre Can, and Nico Schlotterbeck. Ramy Bensebaini also remains unavailable due to a suspension. Opponent Villarreal currently sits in 16th place in the Spanish league and remains winless through four matchdays, recently suffering a 2-3 loss to Deportivo A Coruña. Kovac expressed respect for the Spanish side’s technical style of play and expects a difficult challenge. The German club previously recorded a 4-0 victory against the same opponent in November 2025 during the competition's group stage. Borussia Dortmund continues to finalize its squad availability as it shifts focus to the European tournament.

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