Sahin's centre-back headache
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 15.12.24. | 13:32
Dortmund desperately need a win over Hoffenheim (19.30) to return to the TOP 5, while the BVB boss Nuri Sahin won't have any of his four central defenders available!
The defeat to Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League four days ago was somewhat expected, but the ninth Bundesliga spot after 13 rounds definitely wasn't. That's why Borussia Dortmund await the duel against Hoffenheim at Signal Iduna Park (19.30) with a vast imperative to win.
However, even before the match started, BVB boss Nuri Sahin was aware that the task would be far from easy. And it would have been regardless of the opponent. The reason? The Turk has none of his four centre-backs at his disposal!
The latest central defender to be sidelined is Nico Schlotterbeck, who suffered an ankle ligament tear, and the current predictions are not optimistic, while Filippo Mane (calf), Niklas Sule (ankle), and Waldemar Anton (muscle) have already been injured.
Süle out for months and may require surgery, Schlotterbeck's injury doesn't look good to say the least, Anton injured for a while, Mane injured. Leaves Emre Can in central defense. That's it. pic.twitter.com/yURUkmUoXf
— ari (@aritrabvb1909) December 11, 2024
Due to this unforeseen situation, Sahin will have to rely on alternative solutions, as Emre Can will have to replace midfield with defence (as he did against Barca) and right-back Ramy Bensebaini will be his partner. Apart from the two, the young tactician can count on Yannik Luhrs and David Lelle, who have been representing Dortmund II this season.
Except for the defensive issues, three more players are questionable - Maximilian Beier, Julian Ryerson, and Julian Brandt - and Sahin will be forced to seriously mix things up in order to come up with a starting XI which would be good enough to beat the visitors from the southeast of Germany.
BUNDESLIGA - MATCHDAY 14
Friday
Freiburg - Wolfsburg 3-2 (1-0)
/Kubler 42, 51, Gregoritsch 61 - Wind 75, Svanberg 83/
Saturday
Augsburg - Leverkusen 0-2 (0-2)
/Terrier 14, Wirtz 40/
M'gladbach - Holstein Kiel 4-1 (3-1)
/Kleindienst 1, Hack 26, Plea 43, 79 - Gigovic 30/
Union Berlin - Bochum 1-1 (1-1)
/Hollerbach 33 - Sissoko 23/
Mainz - Bayern Munich 2-1 (1-0)
/Lee 41, 60 - Sane 87/
St. Pauli - Werder Bremen 0-2 (0-1)
/Kohn 24, Ducksch 54/
Sunday
17:30: (4.40) Heidenheim (3.60) Stuttgart (1.83)
19:30: (1.47) Dortmund (4.60) Hoffenheim (6.50)
21:30: (2.20) RB Leipzig (3.60) Eintr.Frankfurt (3.40)
***odds are subject to change***
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