Borussia Dortmund became German A-Junior champions for five successive years between 1994 and 1998. Having finished as runners-up in the 2009 final, BVB's oldest youth category now have another shot at bringing the title back to Dortmund on Sunday. 

It will be a meeting between probably the two best, and certainly the two most consistent, teams of recent years. Hoffenheim were German champions at U19 level two years ago and reached the final last time out, while Borussia Dortmund's U17s won the championship in 2014 and 2015 and have now reached the final at U19 level.

"We know this is our chance and we absolutely want to take it," said coach Hannes Wolf prior to Sunday's (13:00 CET) final in the Wirsol-Rhein-Neckar Arena in Sinsheim (the ticket offices will have enough tickets for BVB supporters too).

Pulisic at the Copa America

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However, there will be a few changes to the squads at the weekend. Southern champions TSG Hoffenheim - who beat Borussia's semi-final opponents 1860 Munich 5-0 - can call upon the services of Philipp Ochs (from the first team squad) and Benedikt Gimber (a nominee for the Fritz Walter Medal who plays for the U23s). BVB coach Hannes Wolf, on the other hand, who is already without the injured Mert Sahin, Patrik Fritsch, Sahin Kösecik and Etienne Amenyido, will be denied the services of Christian Pulisic, who has been selected by US coach Jürgen Klinsmann for the Copa America.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for the young lad, we are absolutely delighted for him and see that as a recognition of our work," said Wolf, who subsequently made a comparison: "It's as if Jogi Löw called up and said to one of our players: Come with us to France." Pulisic made his second international appearance on Wednesday, coming on as a substitute in a friendly against Ecuador.

Even if the personnel situation has worsened slightly in comparison to the semi-final first leg, Wolf remains confident: "We have the means to deal with the situation and assert our game."

First Sinsheim, then Mallorca

On Saturday (11:00 CET) the U19s will train one last time in Dortmund, before taking the bus to Sinsheim. In the evening (18:00 CET) there will be a banquet organised by the DFB and attended by the teams and officials of both clubs. Once the final is over, the coach is taking his charges to Mallorca.

Hopefully, they'll be taking gold medals with them...
Boris Rupert