The tension is building as coach Benjamin Hoffmann's young BVB side step up their preparations for the upcoming German U19 Championship final against VfB Stuttgart (Sunday 2 June, 12:45 CET, live on BVB-TV and the BVB Facebook and YouTube channels). 

''If we want to win, we'll have to up our game compared to the derby in the semi-final,'' said Hoffmann. The BVB coach was in attendance at the recent U19 DFB Cup final in Potsdam to watch Sunday's opponents from Swabia beat RB Leipzig 2-1.

BVB will be forced to cope with the absence of Alaa Bakir, who recently suffered a muscle tear in his knee which will keep him sidelined for at least six weeks. Luca Unbehaun is the only other member of the squad unavailable for Sunday's match. The BVB delegation will take the train to Stuttgart on Friday. On Sunday, they'll make the return trip by bus. Here's hoping they'll have the trophy in tow. 

Full German language report on the academy website.