Visitors Borussia Dortmund will hope that their DFB-Pokal first round clash against Rot-Weiss Essen on Monday at Stadion an der Hafenstrasse can kickstart their push for their sixth title in the competition.
Dortmund last won the trophy in 2020-21, and their pedigree in the DFB-Pokal is sure to make them favourites against their third-tier hosts, who were beaten 4-1 by RB Leipzig in the 2024-25 edition of the tournament in the first round.
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RWE vs Dortmund prediction: Uphill battle for RW Essen
Key stats
- RW Essen have conceded at least one goal in 11 of their past 13 competitive games.
- Dortmund were the third-best offensive side in the Bundesliga last term, having scored 71 times, and they have netted 22 goals in the eight matches since the end of 2024-25.
- The visitors scored at least three goals in each of their final six outings of 2024-25, though they conceded at least two goals three times in that period.
Correct score prediction: RW Essen 1-5 Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund will be expected to win comfortably due to the fact that they are two divisions above their hosts, and while they have at times proved to be defensively vulnerable last term, their superior quality should still be enough to win.
It would not be surprising if BVB boss Niko Kovac's players scored multiple goals and advanced into the second round of the DFB-Pokal.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Borussia Dortmund predicted to win by the bookmakers
- HOME: 9/1 (10) – 10%
- DRAW: 19/4 (5.75) – 17.4%
- AWAY: 1/5 (1.2) – 83.3%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Borussia Dortmund are the expected winner of this clash, with the bookmakers giving the Bundesliga visitors a win probability of 83.3%, and RW Essen have only been given a win probability of 10% for Monday's game.
You can find all our predictions for today's games on our football betting tips page.
Most recent H2Hs: Second competitive meeting
Monday's matchup is not a particularly storied clash considering the sides have only ever met once in a competitive game, with Borussia Dortmund emerging as 3-1 winners in the DFB-Pokal in August 2008.
The sides did subsequently face each other three times in friendlies, and while Dortmund did win twice, RW Essen triumphed 3-2 in July 2017.
Europe Friendlies 11/07/17
Rot-Weiss Essen
Borussia Dortmund
Club Friendly List 27/07/14
Rot-Weiss Essen
Borussia Dortmund
RW Essen preview: Slow start to 2025-26
RW Essen finished eighth with 56 points in the 3. Bundesliga last season – nine points from the third-placed promotion playoff spot – but they are currently 12th with two points following after two matchweeks in 2025-26.
The hosts have often utilised a back three, and if they deploy three centre-backs on Monday, supporters could see a trio consisting of Ahmet Arslan, Torben Musel and Dominik Martinovic.
Predicted lineup: Wienand (GK), Alonso, Schultz, Kraulich, Safi, Moustier, Gjasula, Bouebari, Arslan, Musel & Martinovic
Germany 3. Liga 09/08/25
D
TSV Havelse
1
Rot-Weiss Essen
1
Germany 3. Liga 01/08/25
D
1860 Munich
1
Rot-Weiss Essen
1
Club Friendly List 25/07/25
L
Augsburg
4
Rot-Weiss Essen
1
Club Friendly List 25/07/25
W
Augsburg
1
Rot-Weiss Essen
2
Europe Friendlies 12/07/25
W
SC Fortuna Ku00f6ln
0
Rot-Weiss Essen
5
Borussia Dortmund preview: Hopeful end to 2024-25 under Niko Kovac
Borussia Dortmund started 2024-25 with Nuri Sahin in charge, but he was dismissed from his role as manager in January, though replacement Niko Kovac was able to guide the club to the Bundesliga's final Champions League spot.
The club also participated in the Club World Cup over the summer, though they did exit the competition at the quarter-final stage when they lost 3-2 against Real Madrid in early July.
Filippo Mane, Waldemar Anton and Ramy Bensebaini could start in Kovac's back three, especially as the likes of Niklas Sule and Nico Schlotterbeck are ruled out due to injury.
Predicted lineup: Kobel (GK), Mane, Anton, Bensebaini, Ryerson, Gross, Sabitzer, Bellingham, Svensson, Guirassy & Adeyemi
Germany Bundesliga I 11/05/25
W
Bayer Leverkusen
2
Borussia Dortmund
4
Germany Bundesliga I 03/05/25
W
Wolfsburg
0
Borussia Dortmund
4
Germany Bundesliga I 26/04/25
W
TSG Hoffenheim
2
Borussia Dortmund
3
Germany Bundesliga I 20/04/25
W
Borussia M'gladbach
2
Borussia Dortmund
3
UEFA Champions League 15/04/25
W
Barcelona
1
Borussia Dortmund
3
Player to watch: Serhou Guirassy
Serhou Guirassy was among the best forwards in the Bundesliga last term, with the centre-forward finding the back of the net on 34 occasions for the club in 2024-25.
The Dortmund star has scored four times in his last four games for the Bundesliga club, and he netted six times while providing one assist in his final five competitive domestic outings of 2025-26.