Only a few hours after booking a place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League with his team, Jürgen Klopp already had his thoughts on the next opponents. “We have a tough game in Hoffenheim on Saturday,” said the BVB coach at a press conference held right after the team’s arrival from Marseille in Dortmund. “And we should be prepared to face a tough opposition.”

Klopp gave no hints as to how BVB would line up at Hoffenheim, especially not in defence.  All players returned unscathed from France, but Manuel Friedrich, who was ineligible to play in the Champions League match and stayed home, has picked up a toe injury and is a doubt for Saturday.

This could mean even fewer options in defence for Klopp, with Sokratis also not be available due to suspension, not to mention BVB’s long-term absentees, and Sven Bender (“Saturday comes too early”) set to be ruled out as well.

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In focus: Jürgen Klopp.

BVB youngster Marian Sarr is therefore likely to start in central defence again, especially after his performance against Marseille. The Dortmund coach was very impressed with him:  “I can’t imagine what it must have been like for Marian to make his debut in such an important Champions League game.” Friedrich, but also Koray Günter or Kevin Grosskreutz, are in line to partner the 18-year-old at centre-back.

Klopp and his staff have another two days before making a decision on the line-up. BVB’s defence, that much seems certain, will be put to the test against Hoffenheim. Saturday match could very likely turn into a high-scoring affair as it will see the second-highest (BVB/35 goals) and third-highest scoring sides (TSG/34) in the Bundesliga.

Accordingly, Jürgen Klopp is expecting an attacking encounter. He urged his team on Thursday to “attack, take their chances and defend sensationally well.” BVB, so Klopp, will be up against “a strong Hoffenheim team trying to take advantage of our fatigue following our game in Marseille.”  

BVB have a losing record in the Bundesliga against Hoffenheim (three wins, three draws, four losses), and they will look to improve on it on Saturday. “We want to make the most of this first half of the season, which means we have to do our job in the Bundesliga,” said Jürgen Klopp, who made clear that the “highly emotional feeling of joy we got from the game against Marseille will not be enough to win there.”