DFB Pokal · Round of 32
Borussia Dortmund
3–2 Full time
Werder Bremen

Our pick2–0Correct result

Dortmund's unbeaten stretch against Bremen frames DFB-Pokal tie at Signal Iduna Park

Borussia Dortmund host Werder Bremen in the DFB-Pokal Round of 32 with recent meetings favouring the home side, and both teams arriving on the back of winning starts to their seasons.

📍 Signal Iduna Park

Preview written:

Match report

Borussia Dortmund beat Werder Bremen 3-2 in the DFB Pokal Round of 32. Goals came early as Serhou Guirassy opened the scoring in the 6' (assist Julian Ryerson), then Carney Chukwuemeka made it 2-0 in the 17' (assist Jobe Bellingham). Niclas Füllkrug pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 65', and added a second for Bremen in the 68' (assist Youri Regeer). Marcel Sabitzer restored Dortmund's lead with a 90+3' goal to seal the victory.

Dortmund had 56% possession to Bremen's 44%, with shots on target 4–6 and xG 1.44–1.59. Both sides had 12 total shots; Dortmund won more corners (4–3). The match top-rated player was N. Füllkrug (8.2). PreviaXI's model had predicted a 2-0 home win with home/draw/away chances 64%/21%/15%.

Goals

  • 6'Serhou Guirassy · Julian Ryerson · Borussia Dortmund
  • 17'Carney Chukwuemeka · Jobe Bellingham · Borussia Dortmund
  • 65'Niclas Füllkrug (pen.) · Werder Bremen
  • 68'Niclas Füllkrug · Youri Regeer · Werder Bremen
  • 90+3'Marcel Sabitzer · Borussia Dortmund

Cards

  • 24'Amos Pieper · Werder Bremen
  • 49'Joey Veerman · Borussia Dortmund
  • 57'Arthur Augusto de Matos Soares · Werder Bremen
  • 64'Julian Ryerson · Borussia Dortmund

Match stats

Borussia DortmundWerder Bremen
56%Possession44%
12Shots12
4Shots on target6
1.44Expected goals (xG)1.59
4Corners3
14Fouls9
1Offsides1
4Saves1

⭐ Top-rated player: N. Füllkrug (Werder Bremen) 8.2

Ratings and statistics: API-Football.

Confirmed lineups

Borussia Dortmund · 3-4-2-1

  1. 1G. KobelG
  2. 3W. AntonD
  3. 4N. SchlotterbeckD
  4. 22Kouakou Joane GadouD
  5. 25J. VeermanM
  6. 7J. BellinghamM
  7. 8F. NmechaM
  8. 17C. ChukwuemekaM
  9. 26J. RyersonM
  10. 14M. BeierM
  11. 9S. GuirassyF

Coach: N. Kovač

Werder Bremen · 4-2-3-1

  1. 1K. HeinG
  2. 13ArthurD
  3. 5A. PieperD
  4. 32M. FriedlD
  5. 33Mick SchmetgensD
  6. 23Dariusz StalmachM
  7. 44Y. RegeerM
  8. 18E. DinkçiM
  9. 20Chuky San JoséM
  10. 17M. GrüllM
  11. 26C. IttenF

Coach: D. Thioune

Match facts

Recent form

Borussia DortmundW
Werder BremenW

Last 5 league games, latest on the right

Goals per game

·ScoredConceded
Borussia Dortmund5.00.0
Werder Bremen3.00.0

Last meetings

  • 2026Borussia Dortmund2-2Werder Bremen
  • 2026Werder Bremen0-2Borussia Dortmund
  • 2026Borussia Dortmund3-0Werder Bremen
  • 2025Borussia Dortmund2-2Werder Bremen
  • 2024Werder Bremen0-0Borussia Dortmund

PreviaXI model

Borussia Dortmund64%Draw21%Werder Bremen15%

Model confidence: Strong

Predicted score
2-0
Expected goals (model)
2.04 – 0.87
Double chance
1X · 85%12 79% · X2 36%
Over 2.5 goals
56%Over 1.5: 79% · Over 3.5: 33%
Both teams score
51%
Clean sheet
42% – 13%Borussia Dortmund–Werder Bremen
Half-time result
1 · 47%X 38% · 2 15%
Half-time / full-time
1/1 · 42%X/1 19% · X/X 13%
Expected corners
9.66.3 – 3.3 · Over 9.5: 48%
Expected cards
3.51.6 – 1.9 · Over 3.5: 46%
Most likely scores
  1. 2-011%
  2. 1-011%
  3. 1-110%
  4. 2-110%
  5. 3-08%

Statistical model based on expected goals (xG), results and match statistics from the last two seasons. For information only. How our model works →

Dortmund’s cup context and what’s at stake

Werder Bremen arrive in Dortmund for a single-elimination DFB-Pokal tie at Signal Iduna Park. The tie offers both Bundesliga sides a route into the last 16; for Borussia Dortmund, who sit second in the Bundesliga after seven games, it is a chance to consolidate momentum and defend home ground in a competition where expectations are high. Bremen — sixth in the Bundesliga — will see the cup as an opportunity to upset a higher-placed rival and maintain a strong start to the campaign.

Early-season form shapes expectations

Both teams recorded wins in their opening domestic fixtures and remain unbeaten in their recent runs. Dortmund’s season record shows five goals scored in their only outing so far and a clean sheet conceded across matches listed; their home/away split shows all goals came away in that game. Bremen also began with a victory and three goals in their listed match, keeping a clean sheet themselves. League form reflects Dortmund’s slightly stronger start (second, 17 points from seven) compared with Bremen (sixth, 12 points from seven).

Dortmund’s recent dominance in this matchup

Recent head-to-head results give Dortmund the psychological edge. In the last five meetings between the sides Dortmund have avoided defeat: a 2-2 draw in October 2026 at Signal Iduna Park was the latest encounter, while earlier results include a 2-0 away win for Dortmund in May 2026 and a 3-0 home win in January 2026. Two earlier draws (2025 and 2024) mean Bremen have not beaten Dortmund in these fixtures, with Dortmund recording more wins and more goals across the sequence.

Tactical balance and predictive model

PreviaXI’s model favours the hosts and rates Dortmund as the clearer chance to win, projecting Dortmund to create more scoring opportunities and to control the game at home. The model’s most likely scoreline aligns with Dortmund’s superior expected goals and home advantage; it also highlights a game that could be tight defensively given both sides’ recent clean sheets.

Our prediction

A tight cup tie at Signal Iduna Park looks likely to go Dortmund’s way, with the hosts expected to edge the game by creating the better chances and defending resolutely. Bremen’s solidity makes this unlikely to become a high-scoring affair, but Dortmund’s home form and the recent head-to-head record give them the upper hand.

Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Werder Bremen

All previews