This Wednesday's German B-Juniors Championship semi-final first leg (kick 18:00 CET in Brackel) will see a repeat of last year's final pairing, with Western division winners Borussia Dortmund U17s set to welcome North-East division winners RB Leipzig. The return leg will be played in Leipzig on Sunday.

Reigning champions Borussia Dortmund have a few injury concerns and go into the two games against RB Leipzig with a depleted squad: "We've had these problems all season. We have a good squad with strength in depth, meaning that we can still field a very good starting eleven and name a strong bench too," explained coach Hannes Wolf, who may still have to go without the services of captain Felix Passlack. While other European Championship participants Dzenis Burnic and Janni Serra have returned to Dortmund healthy after finishing the tournament as runners-up, a calf injury is proving problematic for Passlack. Wolf said: "It'll only become clear whether he can play right before the game."

The coach, who holds the opposition in high regard, added: "We're approaching the game with respect, but also enthusiasm, and we want to take our A-game out onto the pitch."

Boris Rupert