“He would like to”
©IMAGO
Borussia Dortmund will also have to do without their four injured defenders Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Süle, Emre Can and Filippo Mane in the top game against fifth-placed RB Leipzig. They were already missing from the 2-0 win in the first leg of the Champions League playoff against Atalanta Bergamo on Tuesday.
Schlotterbeck, who is suffering from muscular problems, is training and feels well, said coach Niko Kovac at the press conference before the game on Saturday (6.30 p.m.) in Leipzig, “but we have to be sensible, it’s a precautionary measure. We don’t want to take too many risks. If we get in somewhere too early, it could mean that it takes longer to get out. He would like to, but we have to be very sensible.”
Against Bergamo, the 18-year-old starting eleven Luca Reggiani, Waldemar Anton and Ramy Bensebaini formed a three-man defense chain throughout – and did not concede a goal. Kovac praised Anton’s recent performances. “Someone who actually always goes under the radar is finally coming to the fore, Waldi is a quiet leader, he helps the team with his leadership and I am happy that he is finally reaping the laurels he deserves,” said the coach.
Highly effective with Guirassy and Ryerson
The focus of BVB’s appearance in Leipzig could once again be center forward Serhou Guirassy and right winger Julian Ryerson. Guirassy has scored six goals in the last four competitive games. Ryerson has already prepared 14 competitive goals this season with his crosses, corners and free kicks, including six in the last three competitive games alone.
After the game in Leipzig, Dortmund have two more important games within a week. Kovac calls the season phase “crunch time”. Next Wednesday, BVB will play the Champions League playoff second leg in Bergamo and three days later on Saturday evening the Bundesliga top game against Bayern Munich. The Champions League round of 16 will be drawn the day before. If Dortmund prevails against Bergamo, then there will also be two games against FC Bayern in the Champions League.