Dortmund finished the previous season in seventh place in the Bundesliga, one of its worst finishes in recent years. It won the DFL-Supercup in the previous season, but was unable to qualify for this season. Dortmund also progressed to the round of 16 in the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League before being knocked out by Juventus. This season, Dortmund only qualified for the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League, the second-tier continental cup. They entered the competition in the third qualifying round. If they advance from this round, they must also get through the play-off round before qualifying for the group stage. Last season, Dortmund ended up as runners-up of the DFB-Pokal after losing to VfL Wolfsburg. Dortmund will begin the season with new coach Thomas Tuchel, who replaced Jürgen Klopp.
Pre-season
The pre-season began with training starting on 29 June 2015. The first pre-season friendly was on 3 July against VfL Rhede. The next day, the season opening event took place with another friendly match against "Team Gold". After this, Dortmund went on a tour of Asia from 5–11 July. They played in two friendlies against Kawasaki Frontale in Japan on 7 July and Johor Darul Ta'zim (Southern Tigers) in Malaysia on 9 July. They then returned to Germany to face VfL Bochum on 17 July before heading to Bad Ragaz in Switzerland for a training camp. This took place from 19–26 July. They faced FC Luzern on 21 July and Juventus on 25 July, the team who knocked them out of the previous edition of the Champions League. After the Swiss training camp, they returned to Germany.
July–August
Competitive matches began on 30 July with the first leg of the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round. The draw for who they will face took place on 17 July. Dortmund were drawn to Austria side Wolfsberger AC. The second leg will take place on 6 August. Round 1 of the DFB-Pokal will take place on 7–10 August, where Dortmund will face Chemnitzer FC away. Matchday 1 of the Bundesliga will then take place from 14–16 August. If Dortmund advances to the play-off round, they will play the first leg on 20 August and the second leg on 27 August. The draw would be talking place on 7 August.
Players and squad numbers last updated on 28 September 2015. Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
^Since the winners of the 2015–16 DFB-Pokal, Bayern Munich, qualified for the Champions League based on league position, the Europa League group stage spot was passed to the sixth-placed team, Mainz 05; and the Europa League third qualifying round spot was passed to the seventh-placed team, Hertha BSC.
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