Landing at 00:32 local time, transfer and check-in at the hotel, and then a small snack late on: it was not until quite late that the Borussia Dortmund first-team players got to bed. Hence why Thomas Tuchel tried to make the adaptation process as easy as possible and organised the first training session in the new surroundings for 13:00 local time...

The thermometer showed summer temperatures of 26°C - and by lunchtime the only little cloud in the sky seemed to be sitting atop the Burj Khalifa, the 828-metre-high building that dominates the Dubai skyline. Down on the ground, on the luscious green grass of the NAS Sports Complex in the south-east of the city, the conditions could scarcely be better. With the local supporters of the "BVB Dubai Fan Club" - as well as some fans from local regions who had travelled especially - watching on, Thomas Tuchel let the players loose on the pitch for the first time. And despite the sweaty temperatures, the first session had a lot to offer with short passing and small pitch exercises on the agenda. Sven Bender and Marcel Schmelzer both completed individual sessions.

At 19:30 local time (16:30 German time), the training staff will have the players back out on the pitch again. (pf)