At the press conference prior to Saturday's meeting between Borussia Dortmund and SC Freiburg, head coach Lucien Favre and sporting director Michael Zorc spoke about personnel matters and the opposition.

"We're expecting a very difficult match," said Lucien Favre, who was under no illusions about the difficulty of the task awaiting his charges in Freiburg at the pre-match press conference. The Breisgau club, who sit third in the Bundesliga table with 13 points (W4 D1 L1), are on a good run of form at present. "But we want to do everything we can to ensure we board the plane home with three points," said BVB sporting director Michael Zorc in a rallying call to the team. The Black & Yellows will, however, be without defender Nico Schulz, who is still injured. He will be joined on the absentee list by Paco Alcácer, who did not join the travelling party for the midweek trip to Prague.

Sven Jablonski to oversee proceedings

Lucien Favre reminded the journalists attending the press conference in Dortmund that every Bundesliga fixture is a fresh challenge, saying: "Every game is very difficult. The teams are all very well organised, cover a lot of ground and are very good physically. The matches last year were always tight too." Zorc added: "Even though one or two have already stopped believing in us, this is where things get serious." The history books certainly offer favourable reading: BVB are unbeaten in 16 matches against SC Freiburg. Marco Reus in particular has enjoyed facing the Breisgau club in the past, having amassed nine scorer points (five goals, four assists) in his last five matches against them. Saturday's match will be refereed by Sven Jablonski, with Holger Henschel and Thomas Gorniak patrolling the sidelines. Patrick Alt will be the fourth official, with Deniz Aytekin and Eduard Beitinger the video assistants.

BVB TV: The press conference with Lucien Favre and Michael Zorc