The scenarioSix Bundesliga wins in a row, however no win in three for BVB within the UEFA Champions League (a draw in opposition to Bodø, defeats in opposition to Tottenham and Inter). “We need to take the momentum now we have within the Bundesliga in the intervening time into this match,” Niko Kovac makes clear. “We would like our followers to assist us carry this momentum. Within the knockout phases, it is all about progressing to the following spherical, however we will not do this by speaking lots now; now we have to work laborious on the pitch. That provides us hope and likewise the idea that we may be profitable in these two video games in opposition to Atalanta.” Borussia Dortmund are aiming to achieve the final 16 of Europe’s premier membership competitors through the play-offs.
Personnel issues
“We presently have 4 injured centre-backs,” says BVB coach Niko Kovac. Captain Emre Can and Filippo Mane have already been sidelined for a couple of weeks. Niklas Süle was substituted at half-time on Friday night in opposition to Mainz because of a thigh pressure, whereas Nico Schlotterbeck has muscular issues. “We cannot take any dangers, so he is not an choice for the sport.”
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After Süle was substituted in opposition to Mainz, teen Luca Reggiani changed him in central defence for the second 45 minutes. Kovac is retaining his choices open as to who might be on the pitch on Tuesday and mentions additional options: “It is all the time the coach’s job to seek out options and be artistic. Julian Ryerson performed in central defence in opposition to Juventus. We will additionally pull Salih Özcan again or change the system. I belief everybody who can play on this place. By 21:00 CET tomorrow, we can have discovered a participant to fill the place.”
The opponentAtalanta completed the league part in fifteenth place, two locations forward of BVB. The Italians have already visited Germany this season within the Champions League, successful 3-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt. General, head coach Raffaele Palladino’s staff completed the league part with 4 wins (2-1 in opposition to Bruges, 1-0 in Marseille, 3-0 in Frankfurt, 2-1 in opposition to Chelsea), one draw (0-0 in opposition to Prague) and three defeats (0-4 in Paris, 2-3 in opposition to Bilbao, 0-1 at Saint-Gilloise). In Serie A, the staff from northern Italy received 2-0 at Lazio on the weekend and are presently in sixth place.
“Atalanta have a extremely nice staff that has grown through the years. They received the Europa League two years in the past and are very excessive up in Italy,” says Niko Kovac. “It will likely be man-to-man all around the pitch. It is going to be very intense. I presently see the tie as being firmly balanced. Hopefully we will journey to Italy with a superb consequence.”
The person of the momentFour assists in a single sport – Julian Ryerson had by no means achieved that earlier than Friday’s match in opposition to FSV Mainz 05. Three nook kicks and one cross from open play have been transformed into objectives by his teammates. “I all the time attempt to enhance,” says the help supplier modestly. His coach’s phrases are way more complimentary: “The info additionally reveals that Julian has consistently improved right here at BVB lately. Each coach and each membership loves having somebody who places the ball the place it must be. I would definitely wish to see him rating a purpose in some unspecified time in the future, but when he continues to work so laborious and retains doing what he is doing, then we are going to all profit.” Ryerson presently has one help within the present Champions League season. It will be a superb time to enhance on that statistic in opposition to Atalanta.
Christina Reinke