The first midweek fixture of the year sees Borussia Dortmund visit FC St. Pauli on Tuesday evening (20:45 CET). The reigning DFB-Pokal holders will be competing for a place in the quarter-finals.

BVB have started the year with two victories. Having come from two goals down to claim a 3-2 triumph against Frankfurt, the Black & Yellows ran out comfortable 5-1 winners against SC Freiburg on Friday evening. "We've started something that is heading in the right direction. We now want to keep that going and the game tomorrow is important in that respect, because we're the reigning champions," BVB coach Marco Rose said on Monday, before adding: "We want to improve, continue our development and be successful." 

With four days for regeneration between the two matches, the coach is not planning on large-scale rotation. "We saw a lot of the lads in very good condition against Freiburg, we probably won't rotate so much tomorrow," Rose explained. However, it will be necessary to make a change at the heart of defence after Emre Can sustained a minor muscle fibre tear in his adductor region against Freiburg. Thomas Meunier, who also had to be substituted, is still experiencing pain. "We'll need to take a look and see whether he'll be okay for tomorrow." Youssoufa Moukoko recently had to withdraw from training due to adductor problems, "but we're working towards having him ready for the squad tomorrow". For Moukoko, the trip would represent a return to his former club: the striker wore the St. Pauli shirt between 2014 and 2016.

Marco Rose, who played at the old Millerntor-Stadion, is looking forward to the trip to Hamburg: "The Millerntor is always special, it has a very unique charm. I'm excited to see what it looks like there now. A full house would have been the cherry on the cake for this game." Rose went on to praise the Bundesliga 2 leaders: "They operate very well off the ball, force the opposition into making errors and switch the play well. Their link-up play with the ball is very strong, they have a lot of power and are very energetic." Rose spoke of a "good overall package", adding: "They deserve to be up there and I'm expecting that we will see them in the Bundesliga next season. If they continue the way they are and remain stable, there's little reason to think otherwise." His charges are about to face a challenging task, "but the cup always is. Away, a knockout tie, it's all to play for."
Christina Reinke

BVB TV by 1&1: The press conference prior to the game against St. Pauli