Borussia Dortmund go into Der Klassiker against champions Bayern Munich on Saturday with an improved self-confidence, coach Edin Terzic said, as they look to claim top spot in the Bundesliga.
Dortmund suffered a shock 3-2 loss to Cologne last week but their sparkling 4-1 Champions League victory away to Sevilla on Wednesday was the perfect dress rehearsal for Saturday's match. "The way we approached the game (at Sevilla) was a really good step forward," Terzic said. "We can take a lot of good things with us from this game and we will also need to improve some others." What looked to be improving was Dortmund's defence, which conceded only once despite Sevilla having 20 goal attempts.
Terzic's fourth-placed team, who are level on 15 points with third-placed Bayern and two behind pacesetters Union Berlin and Freiburg, have been struggling with their backline, having leaked 10 goals in eight league games so far.
That is almost double the amount each of the top three teams have conceded. "Confidence is something that does not just appear but you have to work hard for it," said Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt, who was on target against Sevilla. "If we all stick together and give it all we have then we are in a position to get everything.