Pre-Match Report
Home game against Hoffenheim – "Our focus is on us"
After seven rounds of home games in this Bundesliga season, BVB continue to top the home table with six victories and one draw. The first match on home turf in which the Black & Yellows dropped points was the 1-1 stalemate with Bayern Munich a fortnight ago. That was followed by another draw away from home in Mönchengladbach last weekend. The first home defeat of the season came against Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday (3-2). Nico Schlotterbeck twisted his ankle in the final play of the match and had to be stretchered off the pitch with a ligament injury. "We will wait and see how it develops and if it's somehow okay but it will of course be very difficult," said BVB coach Nuri Sahin in reference to the Hoffenheim match.
Julian Ryerson had already left the pitch with circulation problems. "He has been and is being checked. If someone is substituted with circulation problems, you of course have to be careful," said Sahin. "It shouldn't really be a problem for Wolfsburg. But we want to wait and see and rule out all risks." There are also question marks over the involvement of Maximilian Beier and Julian Brandt. The central defenders Waldemar Anton, Niklas Süle and Filippo Mane also remain sidelined. "When you list the names, you know that we must and will make changes," said Sahin, addressing the defence. "If Schlott isn't ready to play, there are several variations. We have our final training session tomorrow and will then decide on the person who will start alongside Emre." Captain Emre Can already played at the heart of defence against Barcelona. According to the coach, he could play alongside Ramy Bensebaini. Yannick Lührs and David Lelle from the U23s are options too.
Between Graz and Hoffenheim
There is a special personnel situation in the opposition camp: Christian Ilzer only came to SIGNAL IDUNA PARK as the Sturm Graz coach at the beginning of November. Forty days later, he returns as the coach of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. "We have of course watched our Graz game once again. I don't think that his philosophy has completely changed from Sturm Graz to Hoffenheim," explained Sahin, adding: "I was very positively surprised how intensively Graz played and I have now seen that from Hoffenheim too."
Ilzer took over the reins from Pellegrino Matarazzo in November, with the team one point above the relegation play-off place. In the first match of his tenure, the team fell behind to Leipzig on three occasions but ultimately celebrated a 4-3 victory. It was their only victory in the last six Bundesliga matches. The Kraichgau club, who are 14th in the table, have not yet tasted victory away from home this season.
BVB have won five of their last six Bundesliga meetings with Hoffenheim. The Black & Yellows will retain their hold on first place in the home table with a victory on Sunday. Sahin: "We have analysed Hoffenheim, but now our focus is completely on us. It will be about imposing our game."
Christina Reinke