The Borussia Dortmund team are travelling via high-speed train to their next Bundesliga match in Lower Saxony, where they will be aiming to extend their unbeaten run against VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday (kick-off 15:30 CET).

That task has been made more difficult by the fact that Wednesday's DFB Cup tie against Union Berlin − their fourth of seven games in the space of three weeks − went to extra-time and 30 additional minutes were played. "We'd have liked to win in 90 minutes. We'd have liked to avoid the second goal, and it was avoidable," said Michael Zorc, though he nodded in agreement when Lucien Favre said: "Mistakes should be avoided, but they're part of football."

The 3-2 victory over Union Berlin − the 11th win in 14 competitive games this term − will only boost momentum. "The win did us good. Lots of players featured who haven't played too often yet," said Zorc, adding: "The changes were necessary. You can't play with the same 11 or 13 players every three days." Favre echoed that sentiment: "We absolutely had to rotate," he said, citing the example of Manuel Akanji, who played seven games in September before going on international duty with Switzerland and coming back injured. "Seven matches, three weeks out."

The coach will have more players at his disposal in midfield and attack, with both Delaney and Alcácer set to return to action, but his defensive options remain somewhat limited. He is expecting a close contest, because "every Wolfsburg match so far has been close – whether they've won or they've lost". (br)