Prediction for Borussia Dortmund vs. Roma: A friendly with a Champions League flavor – 15.08.2026
Now this is what I call a friendly! Sure, there may not be any tournament points at stake, but the matchup alone makes it impossible to ignore.
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In Dortmund, Borussia will host Roma in the traditional season-opening match. The kick-off at Signal Iduna Park is scheduled for 17:30 local time, which is 18:30 in Kyiv.
For Borussia, this will be their first home game of the season. Until now, Niko Kovac's squad has played all their preseason friendlies away, so returning to Signal Iduna Park—and in front of the legendary "Yellow Wall," no less—is a special occasion. Moreover, the club will present their squad for the 2026/27 season as part of this evening's festivities.
On the sporting side, Dortmund are looking sharp. In their last friendly, Borussia traveled to London and defeated the reigning Premier League champions Arsenal 3-2. The Germans started strong: Samuele Inacio and Konstantinos Karetsas made it 2-0 before halftime, and after the break, Joan Gadu restored the two-goal cushion. Arsenal answered with goals from Ethan Nwaneri and Viktor Gyökeres, but couldn't draw level.
It was especially interesting to watch the newcomers and young talents. Karetsas scored in his debut for BVB, while Inacio and Gadu also found the net. Of course, it's too early to draw sweeping conclusions from a single friendly, but for Kovac, it's an encouraging sign ahead of the official season opener.
Now, onto Roma. The Romans approach this fixture after a busy preseason. Gian Piero Gasperini's side began preparations back on July 13, then headed to Wales for a series of friendlies. Their last opponent before the trip to Germany was Brighton.
And here, the Giallorossi have a few question marks. Early in preseason, Roma played out a 3-3 draw with Cannes, despite leading 3-0 during the match. Paulo Dybala bagged a brace, Donnyell Malen added another, but their opponents staged an incredible comeback.
However, in Wales, the Romans gained some genuinely valuable match practice. Notably, Roma thrashed Newport County 4-1, with goals from Mario Hermoso, Gabriel Castro, Konstantinos Koulierakis, and Matias Soulé.
But the match against Borussia is more than just another tick on the preseason schedule. It's Roma's final tune-up before the official season begins, so Gasperini will surely want to see his side as close to full strength as possible. Especially since last season, Roma finished third in Serie A and are returning to the Champions League after an eight-year absence.
All in all, we’re in for a fascinating test. Borussia have already made a statement win in London and will play at home for the first time, while Roma are wrapping up their preseason preparations. The Germans will no doubt be fired up in front of their fans, while for Gasperini, it's a chance to fine-tune his starting eleven ahead of competitive action.
I wouldn’t focus too much on the final result here. Friendlies often turn into a substitution fest, especially after halftime. But judging by recent matches, both teams look capable of creating chances, while their defenses are still a work in progress. So, betting on goals seems more intriguing than picking a winner.
My prediction: both teams to score.
