Dortmund Adds Schlotterbeck to Squad for Werder Bremen Clash

Borussia Dortmund have included Nico Schlotterbeck in their matchday squad for the Bundesliga meeting with Werder Bremen on Friday, October 9, 2026, while Julian Ryerson remains unavailable. The squad update, reported by LiveScore ahead of kickoff, gives Dortmund another defensive option as they resume their league campaign after a three-week international break. Schlotterbeck's availability had been uncertain since he injured ligaments in his right ankle during a Germany training session on September 30.

His selection means the defender could start or feature as a substitute, although Dortmund coach Niko Kovac must decide how quickly to reintegrate him. The 26-year-old had only recently returned from a separate ligament tear suffered while representing Germany at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June. That injury kept him out for the remainder of the tournament, Dortmund's entire preseason program and the club's first five matches of the new season, according to LiveScore.

Dortmund face a demanding schedule of nine matches in 35 days, making the management of returning players particularly important. Schlotterbeck's presence could strengthen the defense alongside Waldemar Anton and Ramy Bensebaini if Kovac decides against immediately restoring him to the starting lineup.

Ryerson, meanwhile, is absent after aggravating a rib injury during Norway's international match against Wales. The fullback left that game early and subsequently missed Norway's final Nations League fixture against Portugal. Kovac had expressed uncertainty about Ryerson's fitness before the Bremen match, explaining that the player would undergo an assessment on the day. The latest squad developments indicate that the Norwegian has not recovered sufficiently to participate.

Maximilian Beier is a potential replacement on the right, while Joane Gadou could enter the defensive lineup if Schlotterbeck does not start. Chukwuemeka is also unavailable after returning from international duty with muscle problems, despite making three appearances for Austria during the break. Dortmund have also recalled Mathis Albert to the matchday squad after he missed the previous game against Stuttgart. The American forward has yet to play in the Bundesliga this season, but LiveScore reported that he could receive an opportunity from the bench following his international breakthrough with the United States.

The 20-player squad includes goalkeepers Gregor Kobel and Alexander Meyer, defenders Schlotterbeck, Anton, Gadou, Luca Reggiani, Daniel Svensson, Bensebaini and Kaua Prates, and midfielders Felix Nmecha, Jobe Bellingham, Joey Veerman, Marcel Sabitzer and Konstantinos Karetsas. Ethan Nwaneri, Albert, Beier, Serhou Guirassy, Fabio Silva and Samuele Inacio complete the selection. Dortmund enter the fixture after winning six consecutive matches across all competitions before the international break, according to Sporting Life's October 7 preview.

Four of their previous five matches had produced at least three Dortmund goals in each game. Werder Bremen also showed encouraging form before the pause, recording two wins and a draw in their previous three matches. That run included a home victory over RB Leipzig, setting up a contest between two teams that had built momentum before domestic competition resumed.

Sporting Life also reported that Bremen had scored seven second-half goals in their first four league matches, while Dortmund had scored six after halftime. Bremen had managed only one first-half goal across those four league games, compared with Dortmund's three first-half goals and one conceded.

The match was scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. GMT kickoff on Friday, October 9, with coverage listed on BBC iPlayer and the Bundesliga's YouTube channel in Sporting Life's preview.