Borussia Dortmund and LOSC Lille are set to face each other in a high-profile club friendly on Saturday, August 2, 2025. The match will take place at the Hembergstadion in Iserlohn, Germany, an event that also commemorates the stadium’s 50th anniversary. This pre-season fixture offers both teams a crucial opportunity to fine-tune their squads ahead of their respective domestic and European campaigns.
The encounter is a rematch of last season’s UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie, where the German side emerged victorious over two legs. The first leg at Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park ended in a 1-1 draw on March 4, 2025, with Karim Adeyemi scoring for the hosts and Hákon Arnar Haraldsson equalizing for Lille. Dortmund then secured their place in the quarter-finals with a 2-1 win in the return leg in France. The head-to-head record between the two clubs stands at one win for Dortmund and one draw, according to data from multiple sources including FotMob and AIScore.
Borussia Dortmund enters the match in formidable form, fresh off an 8-1 demolition of Sportfreunde Siegen in a friendly on July 30. Seven different players found the net, with Julian Brandt scoring a brace. Under the guidance of coach Niko Kovac, Dortmund enjoyed a strong finish to the previous season, climbing from 10th to 4th in the Bundesliga to secure a Champions League spot. The club has been active in the transfer market, bringing in Jobe Bellingham and Yan Couto, while seeing Jamie Gittens depart for Chelsea. For the friendly against Lille, Dortmund will be without several players, including Niklas Süle, Sebastien Haller, and Gio Reyna, who are being rested for training management reasons, as reported by OneFootball. Felix Nmecha is also sidelined with an injury.
LOSC Lille, coached by Bruno Génésio, is looking to bounce back after their unbeaten pre-season run was halted by a 3-2 defeat to Italian side Como. The French club finished fifth in Ligue 1 last season, earning a place in the UEFA Europa League. Lille has undergone significant squad changes during the off-season, with key players Jonathan David and Rémy Cabella departing. However, they have made a major signing in veteran striker Olivier Giroud, who is expected to lead their attack. The team will be missing Samuel Umtiti and Tiago Santos due to injuries.
Both clubs have announced their starting lineups for the friendly. Dortmund is expected to field a strong side featuring Gregor Kobel in goal, with an attack led by Maximilian Beier and Sehrou Guirassy. Lille’s lineup will see Lucas Chevalier start in goal, with the newly signed Giroud making his presence felt up front, supported by players like Angel Gomes and Nabil Bentaleb on the bench.
While Dortmund’s recent goal-scoring prowess makes them the favorites on paper, pre-season friendlies are often unpredictable. The match provides a valuable test for both managers to assess new signings and tactical systems. For Lille, it is a chance to build chemistry after a summer of transition and seek a measure of revenge for their Champions League exit. For Dortmund, it is an opportunity to maintain their momentum as they prepare to compete on multiple fronts in the upcoming season.
