Overcoming new challenges on the road: BVB women to face Köln's U21s | OneFootball

The first two competitive games of the season were hugely successful for the BVB women. After advancing to the main round of the DFB-Pokal courtesy of a 3-1 victory over second-division side Borussia Mönchengladbach, the BVB women also put in a commanding performance last Sunday in their Regionalliga opener against Bayer Leverkusen's U23 team. Watched on by 1,448 spectators at Stadion Rote Erde, coach Markus Högner's team recorded a high-scoring 6-0 victory in their first game of the league campaign and occupied top spot in the table after the first matchday. “We achieved our goals for the game. It was important to keep a clean sheet and be solid defensively,” said Högner of the opening game.

In her first league game in a BVB shirt, striker Jasmin Jabbes got off to a flying start in the new division. The 24-year-old scored her first career hat-trick in only 42 minutes to make it 3-0. In the latest episode of the Borussia Dortmund podcast, you can hear Jabbes talking about her successful start to the season. Dana Marquardt also notched two goals to complete the scoring at 5-0. In the interview, the double goalscorer explained what objective she has set herself for the new season. For Högner, the team performance is what counts most: “The whole team was able to build confidence right from the start. That's extremely important.”

The BVB women will be up against another reserve team in their first away game in the Regionalliga. The U21 team of Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln also started the season on a winning note. Head coach Verena Hagedorn's team won 4-1 against last year's 10th-placed finishers, 1. FFC Recklinghausen. Antonia Langshausen scored the first goal of the season for Effzeh, having already made a name for herself last season as the team's top scorer with 13 goals.

According to Högner, a new challenge awaits the BVB women away from home: “The atmosphere carries us at home – that's a crucial point. Now we have to be professional away from home too, do our thing and play to win against Köln.” On top of that, there will be an unfamiliar playing surface for the Black & Yellows: the match between Borussia Dortmund and 1. FC Köln will be played on artificial turf.

Frederike Kempe will remain sidelined for BVB on Sunday due to adductor problems. Also missing are long-term injury absentees Melanie Schuster (cruciate ligament rupture) and Celina Baum, who has already been able to resume training.

The BVB women are hoping for plenty of support away from home too. Kick-off is at 12:00 noon CEST at Sportplatz Efferen in Hürth. Admission is free. Pluto TV will also be exclusively broadcasting the BVB women's away games in the Regionalliga.