Borussia Dortmund are facing the most important game of the season so far: At Sporting Lissabon on Wednesday evening, the motto is “No losing “, otherwise their place in the Champions League will be in jeopardy. The situation remains tense as far as personnel is concerned.
Borussia Dortmund set off for Lisbon on Tuesday with 20 players, but only 19 of them will be on the scoresheet on Wednesday evening – substitute keeper Jan-Pascal Reckert is not eligible to play. This detail alone makes it clear that BVB’s personnel situation remains extremely tense ahead of the important Champions League match at Sporting Lisbon. Roman Bürki, the third keeper, had to pull out at short notice with gastrointestinal problems. Defence boss Mats Hummels is missing with a red suspension. Attackers Erling Haaland and Youssoufa Moukoko are absent due to injury, as is Giovanni Reyna. And to make matters worse, Thorgan Hazard tested positive for the Corona virus on Monday. So coach Marco Rose doesn’t have much choice, even though a returnee in Nico Schulz made the trip.
Watzke: “Win in Lisbon, then we’re through “
The personnel situation does not change the clear mandate that Hans-Joachim Watzke gave the team at the general meeting on Sunday. “Just tackle the issue, win in Lisbon, then we’ll be through,” the BVB boss demanded. After all, the situation is quite complex: In the event of a defeat with a two-goal difference, Borussia would have to continue in the Europa League; in the event of a defeat with a one-goal difference, it would depend on the last matchday – Dortmund (at home against Istanbul), however, would be at a clear disadvantage compared to Sporting (in Amsterdam) due to the worse goal difference.
With a win, BVB would be safe in the last 16
With a win, BVB would have won the direct duel against Lisbon and would be safe in the last 16 of the top flight. In the event of a draw, Dortmund would have to pick up at least as many points as Lisbon on the last matchday, and even then BVB would qualify for the next round as runners-up on the basis of the direct comparison they won. So, no losing is the motto for BVB, for whom staying in the top flight is of enormous importance, both financially and for prestige. It’s not for nothing that Gregor Kobel, the Borussia keeper, spoke of a “must-win game” on Tuesday.
“It’s an exciting group as far as second place is concerned. The outcome is open “, said its coach Marco Rose a little later in the catacombs of the Estadio José Alvalade XXI and then emphasised the importance of the match: “We have a Champions League final ahead of us.”
Rose: “Playing for a draw is not an option “
In his preparation for Sporting, Rose has recognised that a thoroughly unpleasant opponent awaits his team, who were only narrowly beaten 1-0 in the first leg in Dortmund. “They are a good team overall, very strong on the head and score a lot of goals through standards,” said Rose. The Portuguese’s game plan is “relatively clear, but they are not easy to defend. It will be a demanding task for us. “ Nevertheless, focusing on protection from the outset in order to secure a point cannot be the approach for his team: “Playing for a draw is not an option. That doesn’t work, that doesn’t work. “