The Bundesliga action continues tomorrow, Tuesday, January 13, 2026, as Borussia Dortmund welcomes Werder Bremen to the iconic Signal Iduna Park. Kick-off is set for 19:30 GMT (20:30 local time) for this Matchday 17 clash.
Dortmund enters the fixture looking to solidify their grip on second place after a rollercoaster start to the new year, while a rested Werder Bremen side seeks to halt a worrying slide down the table.
The Storyline: Title Pursuit vs. Winter Rust
Borussia Dortmund: Finding Defensive Balance
Under the management of Niko Kovač, Dortmund has emerged as the primary challenger to Bayern Munich this season. However, their 2026 opener was a frantic 3–3 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt, where they required a 96th-minute equalizer from Carney Chukwuemeka to salvage a point. While the "Black and Yellows" remain unbeaten at home this season (W5, D2), Kovač will be demanding a more disciplined defensive display to support an attack that has scored at least two goals in seven of their last nine outings.
Werder Bremen: Fresh or Rusty?
Werder Bremen arrives in Dortmund having not played a competitive match since December 20th, following a weather-related postponement of their fixture against Hoffenheim last weekend. Currently 12th in the standings, Horst Steffen’s side is on a five-game winless run. Their struggle on the road is a major concern; the "Green-Whites" have failed to win any of their last six away trips, conceding 12 goals in that span.
Team News & Probable Lineups
Borussia Dortmund Team News
The Return: Jobe Bellingham is available again after serving a suspension and could go straight into the starting lineup.
Injury Ward: Defender Aarón Anselmino is likely to miss out with a hamstring injury. Ramy Bensebaini is also unavailable due to international duty.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Svensson; Sabitzer, Nmecha; Beier, Brandt, Chukwuemeka; Guirassy.
Werder Bremen Team News
Injury Blow: Top scorer Victor Boniface is out long-term following knee surgery.
Late Fitness Tests: Goalkeeper Mio Backhaus is a doubt with a minor eye injury, while Felix Agu and Mitchell Weiser are struggling for fitness.
Potential Debut: New signing Jovan Milosevic could make his first appearance.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Backhaus (or Zetterer); Stark, Friedl, Pieper; Sugawara, Stage, Lynen, Puertas, Schmidt; Njinmah, Schmid.
Head-to-Head (H2H) & Key Stats
Unbeaten Run: Dortmund is unbeaten in their last five meetings with Werder Bremen (W3, D2).
Goal Machine: Maximilian Beier has scored in five separate Bundesliga matches this season, and Dortmund has remained undefeated in all of them.
Tuesday Blues: Interestingly, Dortmund has won only one of their last eight Bundesliga matches held on a Tuesday (D2, L5).
Defensive Fortress: Despite the recent 3-3 draw, Dortmund has conceded just four league goals at home all season—the best record in the division.
Tactical Analysis: Firepower vs. The Low Block
Dortmund will look to impose their will early, relying on the creative partnership of Julian Brandt and Maximilian Beier to feed Serhou Guirassy. With Bremen missing Boniface, they are expected to adopt a deep defensive block and rely on the pace of Justin Njinmah on the counter-attack. The battle in midfield between the industrious Marcel Sabitzer and Bremen’s Jens Stage—who has five goals this season—will be pivotal in deciding who controls the tempo.
Match Prediction
Dortmund’s formidable home form and Bremen's lack of match sharpness suggest a comfortable night for the hosts, provided they can avoid the defensive lapses that plagued them in Frankfurt.
Final Score Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 3–1 Werder Bremen
