Borussia Dortmund Set for Reunion with Shinji Kagawa in Final Asia Tour Match Against Cerezo Osaka
The final pitstop of Borussia Dortmund’s 2024 Asia Tour sees them take on Cerezo Osaka at the Nagai Stadium in Japan. Borussia Dortmund are set for a reunion with Shinji Kagawa on Wednesday as they go up against Cerezo Osaka in a friendly match. After suffering a 4-0 defeat to BG Pathum United in Thailand on Sunday, the BVB players will hope to deliver a better performance and get more match rhythm under their belt.
Cerezo Osaka’s Challenge
Cerezo Osaka are currently sixth in the J1 League standings and will look to hand Borussia Dortmund another shock defeat. Former Borussia Dortmund star Shinji Kagawa will lead the way for Cerezo Osaka on Wednesday, having returned to his boyhood club last year. The attacking midfielder made 216 appearances for BVB across two spells, scoring 60 goals and assisting a further 55.
Borussia Dortmund’s Lineup and Absentees
Borussia Dortmund head coach Nuri Sahin will once again have to make do without several key players, as those involved at Euro 2024 are not yet back in training. Gio Reyna will also miss Wednesday’s game as he did not make the trip to Japan. Despite these absences, the BVB starting XI will still include a number of first-team players, such as Julian Brandt, Karim Adeyemi, Niklas Süle, Felix Nmecha, and Julian Ryerson.
Potential Changes and Young Talents
It will be interesting to see what changes Sahin decides to make to the team that was beaten by Pathum United. Talented youngsters Paris Brunner and Almugera Kabar were BVB’s standout performers in that game. Fans will be keen to see if they can replicate their impressive performances against Cerezo Osaka.
Reunion with Kagawa
The match will be particularly special for Borussia Dortmund as they reunite with Shinji Kagawa, a player who left a significant mark during his time at the club. His presence on the pitch will add an emotional layer to the friendly, making it a must-watch for fans of both teams.
As Borussia Dortmund wrap up their Asia Tour, this match against Cerezo Osaka offers an opportunity for the team to fine-tune their strategies and for the players to gain valuable match experience ahead of the new season.