Back
5.02.2022Bayer 04

Bellarabi ahead of BVB game: 'It will be exciting right to the end'

Karim Bellarabi knows what it's all about: When the Werkself line up against Borussia Dortmund on Sunday 4 February (kick-off: 15.30 CET), the 31-year-old midfielder will be the only player in the Bayer 04 squad to have been on the winning side at the Signal Iduna Park. In an interview with bayer04.de, the Black and Reds number 38 reveals key factors for Sunday and also talks about his favourite match against the Black and Yellows.
crop_20220127_JS_Training_0575.jpg

 

Karim, how are you all feeling heading to Dortmund?

Bellarabi: We had a couple of days off last weekend and were all able to recover to some extent. We worked well in training this week and the last few weeks have gone very well overall. Therefore, we are going into this game full of confidence. Nevertheless, we also know it will be a very difficult and exciting match against a strong team.

Two of the three best attacking sides in the Bundesliga meet in BVB (52 goals) against the Werkself (49 goals). Can the fans of both teams expect a goal fest?

Bellarabi: Games against Dortmund are always special. They are actually very similar to us and we have a lot of quick players too. Therefore, I believe it will be exciting right to the end.

It's second against third. What could make the difference in the end?

Bellarabi: We'll see. In games like that it's mostly the little things. We always give 100 per cent and we have our plan. We went to implement that as well as we can and for as long as possible.

To what extent do you have a score to settle with BVB after the 4-3 defeat earlier in the season?

Bellarabi: That was an intense match but I can remember it exactly. Of course, this time we want to end up with the three points.

You are the only player in the current Werkself squad to have won at Dortmund. Did you know that?

Bellarabi: That's the first time I've heard that. I hope a couple of my teammates can follow suit on Sunday. (He laughs) It's absolutely of secondary importance if I'm responsible for that. We want to achieve more as a team and play with high intensity. What happened in the past or happens in the future is irrelevant at the moment.

To finish with, tell us about your personal highlight against BVB.

Bellarabi: That's easy – obviously my goal after nine seconds. (He laughs) It was a very special game back then. It was the first Bundesliga match under Roger Schmidt and we had lots of plans at the start of the season. We faced a very strong opponent in Dortmund but we’d actually planned to get on the front foot early and take a risk. The fact it worked straightaway was obviously brilliant.

Related News

Grafik zur Terminierung des 11. Spieltag
Women - 22.10.2025

Women: Bundesliga Matchday 11 confirmed

The next match in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga has been scheduled: The Werkself will play their Matchday 11 game on a Saturday afternoon. This was announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Wednesday afternoon.

Show more
eSports
eSports - 22.10.2025

#B04eSports: Next six points secure progress to offline round of showdown one

The Bayer 04 eSports players have completed the online preliminary round of the first showdown of the VBL Club Championship 2025/26 and are now in eleventh place in the overall table with twelve points. The Leverkusen team are through to the offline round of showdown one.

Show more
eSports
eSports - 22.10.2025

#B04eSports: Runners-up together - PSG eSports players guests at UCL home match

Yesterday, Tuesday 21 October, the Leverkusen gamers hosted the eSports players of the reigning champions of the UEFA Champions League as part of the UEFA Champions League home match between the Werkself and Paris Saint-Germain. Like the #B04eSports team in the VBL Club Championship, PSG finished runners-up in the eLigue 1 Championship last season.

Show more
Echeverri
Champions League - 21.10.2025

Werkself suffer 7-2 defeat at home to PSG in eventful encounter

The Werkself lost 7-2 against reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain on Matchday 3 of the league phase in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign. Willian Pacho put the visitors ahead in a dramatic first half (7'). Robert Andrich was shown the red card, but Illia Zabarnyi was also sent off for PSG. Head coach Kasper Hjulmand's team then showed their fighting spirit. Aleix Garcia equalised with a penalty to make it 1-1 (38'). PSG then turned the game round with goals from Désiré Doué (42’, 45+3’) and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (44). Further goals in the second half were scored by Nuno Mendes (50'), Aleix Garcia (54'), Ousmane Dembélé (66') and Vitinha (90'). The final scoreline was 7-2.

Show more