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MATCH PREVIEW & MORE INFO
Dortmund possible starting lineup: Meyer; Ryerson, Sule, Luhrs, Rothe; Nmecha, Kamara; Bynoe-Gittens, Brandt, Adeyemi; Moukoko
Match Preview
Osaka possible starting lineup: Kim; Okuda, Toriumi, Funaki, Noborizato; Uejo, Tanaka, Okuno; Fernandes, Capixaba, Leo Ceara
Match Preview
Borussia Dortmund will play their second and final game of their pre-season tour of Asia on Wednesday when they face J1 League side Cerezo Osaka. This match is a crucial opportunity for Dortmund’s newly-appointed boss, Nuri Sahin, to build momentum before his first Bundesliga season at the helm. Sahin, who previously played 274 games for Dortmund, is stepping into a significant role following Edin Terzic’s departure after the Champions League final.
Cerezo Osaka, currently in the midst of their 2024 J1 League season, will use the friendly as a welcome distraction from their recent competitive struggles. The team has not won any of their last four matches, including a draw against Tokyo Verdy and a defeat to Ventforet Kofu in the Emperor’s Cup. They will be looking to build confidence with a strong performance against Dortmund before their next league fixture against Machida Zelvia on August 7.
Dortmund’s pre-season has been challenging so far, with a 1-1 draw against 3.Liga side Erzgebirge Aue and a surprising loss to Thai club BG Pathum United. They will be eager to secure their first pre-season win against Cerezo Osaka before returning to Europe for further preparations with friendlies against Villarreal and Aston Villa.
For the match, Dortmund will be missing several key players. Defender Ryuya Nishio is unavailable as he represents Japan at the 2024 Olympics. In his absence, Cerezo Osaka’s Akio Kogiku will likely rely on Koji Turiumi and Kakeru Funaki as his central-defensive pairing. Former Dortmund player Shinji Kagawa, absent from recent squads, will hope to feature against his old club where he won two Bundesliga titles and two DFB-Pokal trophies.
Dortmund’s squad for the tour is also missing some notable names. Key players such as Gregor Kobel, Nico Schlotterbeck, Emre Can, Marcel Sabitzer, Donyell Malen, and Niclas Füllkrug are not part of the tour due to their participation in Euro 2024. Giovanni Reyna is expected to join the squad after returning from a loan spell with Nottingham Forest, but new signings Waldemar Anton and Serhou Guirassy are not traveling due to injury and recovery.