Although Borussia Dortmund's opponents on Friday (20:30 CET) at a Signal Iduna Park yet to sell out completely do not have an away point to their name so far this season, Thomas Tuchel was quick to issue a warning. "On the whole, Freiburg are very dangerous opponents," he said.

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Anyone who saw Sport-Club's match against Borussia Mönchengladbach, for example, is likely to concur with the BVB coach. And their two defeats on the road need to be seen in the proper context, too. "They were very unlucky to lose at Hertha, conceding from a deflected shot in the very last minute, and they had more chances than their opponents in Cologne. It was anything but a classic 3-0," Tuchel said.

He is therefore expecting a "tactically highly disciplined and very flexible opponent that will adapt our strengths". Depending on the occasion, Freiburg are capable of adopting a back three, four or five without sacrificing quality, despite their current injury problems at the back. "It all works," said Tuchel with a mixture of amazement and respect. "They operate well. Every Freiburg player fits into the system." The newly-promoted side are solid at the back and prolific from set-pieces, making them "very dangerous opponents on the whole, a team without major weaknesses" in the head coach's words.

With the club facing its fourth match in the space of just 10 days, the coaching staff's task is once again about finding the right balance between relaxation and exertion. "Our players seem to be good at managing that," said Tuchel, who continued: "The players love getting the chance to play so often. They need the headlights, the tension, the recognition." The experience is not a new one, either. The head coach spoke of a "task that helps us to grow. That was something we experienced last year on our long journey in the Europa League." The problem is rather the fact that "we cannot train the important information during the week. Because the only thing we have been doing since the start of the busy fixture period is regenerative work."

Since yesterday, André Schürrle is back on his feet running. However, "there is probably not enough time remaining," Tuchel said of the player's chances for Friday. Marc Bartra (torn adductor) will also miss the match. 

Boris Rupert