Abdou Diallo is suspended and Paco Alcácer is questionable. Both the frontline and backline positions are causing concern ahead of the home game on Wednesday against 1. FC Nuremberg which, incidentally, still has tickets available for any spontaneous fans who want to watch the game live at the Signal Iduna Park.

Diallo's one-game suspension due to his "unsportsmanlike conduct" has made the team selection slightly uncomfortable as it coincides with the absence of centre-back Ömer Toprak who is out with an injury. It will fall to Dan-Axel Zagadou to partner up with Manuel Akanji. "He's good in training. It's not a problem," said Lucien Favre about the French defender, "It's normal that at 19 years of age, you still have some things to improve on."

And up top? The wait on Paco Alcácer, who has been out injured since the game against Frankfurt, continues. "At the moment I can't say anything," said Favre on Monday, 48 hours before kick-off. "He took part in a session yesterday, but not all of it. We'll have to wait."

BVB will host a newly promoted 1. FC Nuremberg who have had a strong start to the season, losing only on Matchday 1 after missing a penalty. That means that this team is hard to defeat. "In the Bundesliga, no game is an easy one. I said that before the season and now it's plain to see," stated Favre. He also commented on the Franconian opposition saying, "They're athletic, have a lot of power and move quickly up the wings. We'll have to give a strong performance if we want to win."

Without question, a home victory is the objective and would continue the put the season in a positive (flood) light. Favre rallied up his starting XI, "If we seize the ball, we have to think offensively." The switch of play must be quicker and errors cannot be made in build-up play and in dangerous areas. Commenting on the match in Hoffenheim, the coach said, "Losing the ball was dangerous. We need to improve on that."

Boris Rupert