Shortage of personnel in the top game
BVB starts with third division professionals against Leverkusen
January 10, 2025 – 7:32 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
The Bundesliga continuation in the new year starts with a bang. Dortmund hosts Leverkusen – but both teams have personnel problems.
For Borussia Dortmund, the new year begins with significant personnel concerns. Before the first competitive game of the year in the evening against double winners Bayer Leverkusen, BVB was hit by a flu epidemic. Coach Nuri Şahin only has one trained central defender available in the squad, young player Yannik Lührs. The 21-year-old is usually used in the second team in the third division. Now he starts against Leverkusen.
In central defense he will probably start alongside right-back Julian Ryerson. Yan Couto (right) and U17 world champion Almugera Kabar (left) defend on the outside, all other options are not available.
According to media reports, the defensive players Nico Schlotterbeck, Ramy Bensebaini, Waldemar Anton and captain Emre Can did not travel to the team hotel before the game at lunchtime. Niklas Süle (injured) and Pascal Groß (suspended) are also missing.
Bayer Leverkusen also has personnel problems. Striker Victor Boniface will not be on the pitch for the restart of the Bundesliga. The 24-year-old has problems with his thigh. Coach Xabi Alonso’s team has also recently been worried about key player Granit Xhaka. The Rhineland midfielder, who has started every league game so far, apparently had problems with his ankle. But first he is in the starting lineup. Unlike Florian Wirtz, who is initially only allowed to sit on the bench.
Dortmund and Leverkusen start the 16th matchday of the Bundesliga (from 8.30 p.m. in the live ticker on t-online). While BVB, who were in the Champions League final against Real Madrid (0-2) in the summer, are only sixth in the table after 15 games and are already eleven points behind league leaders FC Bayern, the “Werkself” are the Munich team’s first pursuers .
With a win in Dortmund, Leverkusen can move within one point of the league leaders, at least until Saturday evening. For Dortmund, a three points would mean third place, at least temporarily.