BVB youth internationals in action

Although the teams in the Under 17 and Under 19 Bundesligas will get a break until 6/7 April, the young footballers of Borussia Dortmund still have only a short Easter break: the U19s and U17s will play their first cup games at club level over the weekend, after which the majority of the players will link up with their national teams.

Mike Tullberg's U19s, who play host to VfL Bochum on Sunday (7 April), still need five points from the remaining six Bundesliga games to win the West German Championship for the third time in a row. They are already looking at potential opponents in the semi-finals of the German Championship (15 and 19 May), and there could be a duel with Hertha BSC in a repeat of last year's tie. The side from Berlin lead the way in the North/Northeast on 46 points, eight ahead of VfL Wolfsburg, who have one game in hand.

First up, however, BVB face a task in the Verbandspokal on Sunday (13:00 CET) as the travel to VfL Eintracht Mettingen (district of Steinfurt). The hosts have been preparing for their "Match of the Decade" for weeks and expect a four-digit audience. "The anticipation is huge. An absolute highlight for us," said coach Tobias Stenzel. After that match, Borussia's internationals will travel to link up with their national teams. For those who stay at home, there is another friendly match against TSC Eintracht Dortmund scheduled on Wednesday 27 May.

Rafael Lubach is in the squad of the German U19s, who will compete in a European Championship qualifying tournament against Romania, Turkey and hosts Croatia from 20 March in Croatia. Danylo Krevsun is also playing a European Championship qualifying tournament with Ukraine's U19s, as will Filippo Mane with Italy. William Rashidi was called up for Sweden's U18s and Alex Niziolek for Poland's U18s. Borussia's Under-17 World Cup winners Paris Brunner and Almugera Kabar are joining the German Under-18 national team, who will play in the four-nation tournament in Spain. They will face off against the Netherlands, England and the Czech Republic. Kjell Wätjen refused the call-up to focus on his schooling. Charles Herrmann remains out injured.

U17 in the Westfalenpokal in Sprockhövel

While last season BVB formed the largest club block of the German Under-17 national team with Kabar, Wätjen, Herrmann and Brunner, coach Michael Prus invited only one Borussia Dortmund player for the European Championship qualifying tournament from 20 to 26 March in Braga (Portugal) against Croatia, Ireland and Portugal in Tyler Meiser. Elias Benkara and Fritz Fleck are on the reserves list.

Borussia's U17s face a challenge in the Westfalenpokal on Sunday (11:00 CET) against the Landesliga side TSG Sprockhövel. Marco Lehmann's team will then play an away friendly against Leipzig on Saturday (23 March). This duel could be repeated in the semi-final of the German Championship – namely if BVB claim second place in the Under 17 Bundesliga West and Leipzig – who currently sit top of the table, six points in front – are crowned champions of the North/Northeast. BVB's next opponents in the Bundesliga are 1. FC Cologne on Saturday (6 April). The fourth-last game of the season sees a big match between Bayer Leverkusen (first) and Schalke 04 (third).

Thierry Fidjeu-Tazemeta from the BVB-U17 was called up for Austria's U17 squad, who will play Slovenia, Norway and Spain in the European Championship qualifying tournament. Luc Reggiani will play two international matches against Germany in Pirmasens with Italy's U16s. DFB U16s coach Marc-Patrick Meiser has not called up any Borussia Dortmund players for this squad.

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