BVB want to extend their unbeaten run on Saturday against Niko Kovac’s favorite opponent. Fabio Silva could be in the squad for the first time while for captain Emre Can it was the next disappointment.
Borussia Dortmund’s summer signing Fabio Silva could finally be on the verge of making his long-awaited first appearance in the squad as Niko Kovac’s team prepare to face Mainz 05 on Saturday afternoon.
The Portuguese striker, who arrived with high expectations, has been struggling with an adductor injury since joining and has not yet been able to contribute on the pitch. His possible inclusion comes at a key moment, with Dortmund looking to extend their unbeaten Bundesliga run to thirteen matches across two seasons.
The excitement surrounding Fabio Silva goes beyond Dortmund. Head coach Niko Kovac revealed this week that even Portugal’s national team had considered calling him up earlier in the year. “He would have been included in September if he had been fit,” Kovac said, pointing out that the young forward is not only valued at club level but also by national coach Roberto Martinez. So far, Silva has just one senior cap for Portugal, earned in November 2024, but the feeling in Dortmund is that his quality and potential will soon make him a regular presence at both club and international level if he can stay healthy.
The match against Mainz could also mark the return of Niklas Süle, who has been sidelined with a lower-leg muscle problem since the Club World Cup. Like Silva, he has increased his workload in training over the past week, although neither player has yet participated in full team sessions. Kovac explained that the decision about their inclusion would be taken after Friday’s final training, stressing that both are moving in the right direction but that no risks will be taken.
Not all injury news was positive. Dortmund will again be without captain Emre Can, who continues his rehabilitation from persistent adductor issues, and Julien Duranville, who is recovering from a shoulder problem. Kovac admitted that Can’s absence has been particularly difficult, both for the team and for the player himself. “They are making progress, but not to the extent we had hoped,” the coach said. “That Emre is not there annoys us all, him the most. But we have to be patient.”
Since the end of last season, Can has been unable to contribute on the pitch, having already missed the Club World Cup. Yet his influence within the squad remains undiminished. Kovac praised his captain for continuing to lead off the field, highlighting his role in the dressing room. “Emre is a very important part of this team. Even when he is not playing, he takes on the role he must fulfill as captain. In the dressing room he is very active, I see that,” the coach explained. Kovac also mentioned that along with Julian Brandt and Nico Schlotterbeck, Can is one of the key players he regularly consults for opinions and feedback, underlining the respect he commands among teammates and staff. For Kovac, there is no doubt about the legitimacy of his captaincy: “I am very satisfied with him. It makes sense that he is our captain.”
Defensively, there was some relief with Schlotterbeck returning in last week’s 1-0 victory over Wolfsburg. He is expected to start again against Mainz, having come through the match without any setbacks. The situation is different for Aaron Anselmino, however. The young Argentine defender is still struggling with muscular issues and has not made sufficient progress, with Kovac confirming that he has only been partially integrated into training and that the club prefers to pull him back rather than push him too hard at this stage.
There was also a brief scare regarding striker Serhou Guirassy, Dortmund’s top scorer, who suffered a dead leg in training on Thursday and was forced to limit his involvement in the session. Fortunately, medical staff have since cleared him to play, and Kovac confirmed that the forward will be fully available for the match on Saturday, news that comes as a major boost for the attack.
As Dortmund head into the weekend, the focus remains on maintaining momentum in the league while carefully managing the return of key players. Mainz are known as a side capable of causing problems for bigger clubs and will be motivated to end Dortmund’s unbeaten run, but Kovac’s men will take confidence from their recent form. The potential addition of Fabio Silva to the squad adds another layer of intrigue, as supporters eagerly await the debut of the Portuguese forward who was brought in to strengthen the attack. For Silva, finally stepping onto the pitch in black and yellow could be the first step in establishing himself as an important figure at Dortmund, while for the team as a whole, the Mainz clash offers another chance to show consistency and resilience in their pursuit of a strong Bundesliga campaign.
