Pre-Match Report
Marcel Sabitzer: "The mission is clear: win against Graz"
The personnel situation at Borussia Dortmund remains tight. Niklas Süle, Julian Ryerson, Gio Reyna, Karim Adeyemi, Julien Duranville, Kjell Wätjen and Yan Couto are all out. Coach Nuri Sahin is cautiously optimistic that the latter will be available again on Saturday in Mainz. Almugera Kabar returns after serving his suspension. There is still a question mark over Waldemar Anton's fitness ("another race against time"). Should the centre-back miss out again, captain Emre Can could slot into the defence, as he has done in the past two games. "He has the right profile. He has a good physique, is quick and reads the game in front of him. He does that well alongside Nico Schlotterbeck," says Sahin.
The coach has also not yet given the go-ahead for goalkeeper Gregor Kobel to play. Alexander Meyer would replace him in goal, as he did against Leipzig. "Exceptional character, team player," said Sahin about his second-choice keeper. "He's extremely popular in the team and he has shown his qualities."
Sitting next to Dortmund's coach on the podium was Marcel Sabitzer, who had to be substituted off against Leipzig after suffering a knock. "I'm feeling better. We had two treatments yesterday and have therefore made progress," said the midfielder, going on to add: "I took a knock and the muscle was a bit tight afterwards. But I have high hopes that I'll be fine tomorrow."
Graz the reigning champions in Austria
While BVB are eleventh in the UEFA Champions League table after two wins to start (in Bruges and at home to Celtic), followed by a defeat away to Real Madrid, Graz have lost all three games (in Brest and at home to Bruges and Sporting) and are in 32nd place. The Austrians qualified for the Champions League as last season's domestic title-winners. They beat Rapid Vienna in the Austrian Cup final to complete the double.
"They are a club that have gone about things very sensibly in recent years. The consistency over the last few years is extraordinary," emphasised Sahin, adding: "A team moulded in the image of their coach. No matter what system they play, they pull it off completely." For Austrian-born Marcel Sabitzer, it is a special clash: "I come from Graz, I grew up there and played for another club in the city. I have a lot of memories of playing in Graz." And when asked about the current situation: "They have a clear philosophy that they follow. You have to respect that. But of course the mission is clear: to beat them tomorrow."
Christina Reinke