The Borussia Dortmund training ground was back to being a hive of activity on Tuesday morning. Head coach Lucien Favre has only had a small group of players to work with over the past fortnight, but the last internationals have since returned and are now working meticulously at Adi-Preißler-Allee as they prepare for their next match on Saturday: the Black & Yellows will host VfL Wolfsburg on Bundesliga Matchday 27.

Pulisic injured, Piszczek training with the ball

Favre has an almost-full contingent at his disposal. "All the boys have returned fit – only Christian Pulisic is unfortunately injured," explained the Swiss tactician to media representatives after the session. The 20-year-old US international, who earned his 25th cap over the break and became the youngest player of all time to score 10 goals for the American national team, tore muscle fibres and will be sidelined for the Bundesliga meeting with the Wolves. However, Favre is hoping he can count on the likes of Paco Alcácer, Mario Götze and Axel Witsel, who have all been back training with the team since last Thursday. Although Lukasz Piszczek is not yet at that stage, the Poland international made the most of the international break: he opened the brand-new BVB Academy in his homeland and completed a session of ball work together with athletics coach Andreas Beck.

Wolfsburg a robust team

A glance at the remaining fixtures quickly shows that the season is entering the home straight. Lucien Favre's squad only have eight matches of the campaign left and the objective is clear. "Ideally, we want to win every match!" But Favre knows it won't be easy against the Wolves. "They're very athletic and often switch systems. Sometimes they play with a diamond, sometimes a 4-3-3 and sometimes a flat 4-4-2." And up top they have Dutch forward Wout Weghorst, who has scored six goals in his last seven matches − including a hat-trick in the recent 5-2 victory over Fortuna Düsseldorf. 

Desire likely to prove decisive

Borussia Dortmund won 3-2 at Hertha Berlin on their last Bundesliga outing. It was a match in which Favre's charges twice battled from behind before eventually snatching a winner in the dying seconds. "The team is showing that they absolutely want to win," declared sporting director Michael Zorc, who believes that same desire will prove key when the Black & Yellows face the Green & Whites on Saturday.

Signal Iduna Park is completely sold-out, meaning the box offices for home and away fans will be closed on Saturday. VfL Wolfsburg have sold 2,800 tickets.

BVB-TV: The press conference with Lucien Favre and Michael Zorc