Borussia Dortmund's Champions League Hurdle: Doubt over Sabitzer and Wolf's Fitness
Borussia Dortmund (BVB) grapples with fitness concerns for key players Marcel Sabitzer and Marius Wolf ahead of their final Champions League group stage clash against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on Wednesday at 21:00, live on DAZN.
Edin Terzic, the BVB interim coach, is yet to make decisions on the duo's return to the squad, with Sabitzer joining in individual training, while Wolf took part in a warm-up session the previous day. "Marius participated in the warm-up yesterday, but we'll review Marcel's status individually today before making any decisions tomorrow morning," Terzic stated.
BVB's predicament is amplified by Thomas Meunier's inability to feature in the Champions League, leaving the team without a registered replacement for Marius Wolf. Emre Can, however, remains sidelined due to his Premier League suspension but will be absent from this match, allowing Mats Hummels, who was previously suspended for the flare-up against Leipzig, to rejoin the squad.
BVB maintains a three-point lead over PSG in their group, so a draw in the upcoming fixture is sufficient to maintain the advantage and bolster chances of facing an easier opponent in the round of 16. Though Terzic has kept mum on the idea of revenge, a BVB triumph would be a strong counter to their 2-0 loss to PSG earlier this season.
Revenge or motivation? Terzic stressed that the word "revenge" is inappropriate in sports, stating that it serves as "motivation enough" for them.
Bonus Insights
Prime-time injury updates for BVB's Champions League and other matches:
- Waldemar Anton: Having recovered from his hip problem, Anton is expected to return to full training this week, potentially making the roster for both Freiburg and PSG matches.
- Karim Adeyemi: With a torn muscle, Adeyemi is working towards a full training comeback. Though his muscle recovery remains a concern, the sheer willpower to get back on the pitch might just tilt the scales in his favor for the Champions League showdown.
- Julien Duranville: Although he's gradually recovering from injury, Duranville is exercising caution due to his past injury history, which could delay his eventual arrival on the roster.
- Niklas Süle: With reports circulating about an unclear status, Süle's comeback dates could range from days to even weeks.
- Giovanni Reyna: With the hope of resuming training this week, Reyna's availability for the Champions League encounter seems increasingly optimistic.
- Marcel Sabitzer: Given his recall from loan and Felix Nmecha's injury, Sabitzer is high on Terzic's list for the PSG encounter.
- Marius Wolf: Terzic has yet to provide a specific update on Wolf's injury status, but his name does not appear on the list bearing significant injuries that would hinder his participation in the PSG match.
