Borussia Dortmund's first home game in the 2021/22 Champions League - with Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon the visitors at Signal Iduna Park next Tuesday - has already sold out its capacity of 25,000 tickets. This will be the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic that BVB have been able to welcome fans to the most beautiful stadium in the world for a game in Europe's elite club competition - and among the spectators there will be 500 people that have worked tirelessly under the most difficult conditions and the constant fear of infection to achieve the most incredible things.

"Right from the start we have stressed that we want to thank those who have done so much for us as a society in the fight against the Coronavirus," said Hans-Joachim Watzke. The Borussia Dortmund CEO then added: "Even at a time when capacity is still limited, we felt the need to extend the invitation for the match against Sporting."

BVB will continue to invite medical personnel to upcoming matches in the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal.

BVB managing director Carsten Cramer said the following words: "The pandemic has made us all painfully aware of what really matters first and foremost, namely health, but also the cohesion of society. During the peak of the pandemic, many people did an incredible job, working almost around the clock and taking care of the defenceless, the elderly and the vulnerable. These carers, the true heroes in the fight against Covid, deserve all our thanks and our utmost respect."