Unbeaten leaders Dortmund host Bremen as Schlotterbeck races to be fit

📰 Leaders Borussia Dortmund, perfect after four games, resume their Bundesliga campaign at home to Werder Bremen on 9 October after the international break. 📌 Key points 🏆 Dortmund top the table with four wins from four and 12 points. 🩹 Nico Schlotterbeck could play despite his ankle injury. 🗣️ Niko Kovač: "Anyone who knows Schlotti knows he always wants to play." ⚔️ Niclas Füllkrug returns to his old club chasing a fourth straight league goal. 😷 Ryerson, Karetsas and three others are doubts. 📝 What happened 🩹 Schlotterbeck damaged the lateral ligament in his right ankle in Germany training and left the squad. He avoided surgery and has been working individually back in Dortmund. 🗣️ At his press conference on 7 October, Kovač said: "The plan would be for him to train with us tomorrow. Then we'll see what that means for Friday's match." Asked if playing was realistic, he called it "possible", adding: "Anyone who knows Schlotti knows he always wants to play. We'll discuss that together, of course with our doctors too." 😷 There are other concerns. Julian Ryerson has a rib problem, Carney Chukwuemeka has muscular issues, and Konstantinos Karetsas and Daniel Svensson are under the weather. Kovač said four international matches in one break were "definitely too much". ⚔️ Bremen have seven points from four games. Last time out they trailed Augsburg 2-1 before Füllkrug equalised in the 86th minute and Mitchell Weiser won it 3-2 in stoppage time. 📊 By the numbers • Dortmund: four wins from four, 12 points (two clear of Bayern) • Bremen: seven points from four games • Serhou Guirassy: four goals and four assists in all competitions • Füllkrug: three goals in four league games (plus one in the DFB-Pokal) 👀 What to watch ⚔️ Guirassy v Füllkrug — Füllkrug faces Dortmund for the first time since leaving in 2024. He has said Guirassy's arrival made it hard for him to stay. 🛡️ Schlotterbeck's fitness — Thursday's team session is key. He had only just returned from damaging ligaments in his other ankle at the World Cup. 🔥 Bremen's late surge — they turned their last game round with two late goals, and Weiser is back after 14 months out. 🔭 Why it matters Dortmund play seven times in 22 days this month, with Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League on 14 October and a trip to Union Berlin on 17 October to follow. Keeping the winning run going after the break would set the tone. Kick-off is 8.30pm local time on 9 October at Signal Iduna Park.