Pre-Match Report
Countdown Hoffenheim: Starting XI, Sky, referee, Sportstudio
Line-up: Four changes to the starting line-up
In addition to Nico Schlotterbeck (torn meniscus) and Marcel Sabitzer (back in training), Maxi Beier and Pascal Groß have been ruled out by injuries sustained in the Gladbach match. They will be replaced by Julian Brandt and Emre Can. In addition, Julian Ryerson and Jamie Gittens will come in for Yan Couto and Karim Adeyemi (both substitutes).
BVB: Kobel – Süle, Anton, Bensebaini – Ryerson, Nmecha, Can, Svensson – Brandt – Guirassy, Gittens
Substitutes: Meyer, Couto, Özcan, Reyna, Duranville, Chukwuemeka, Adeyemi, Kabar
Referee: Benjamin Brand to referee
The 35-year-old business economist from Schwebheim is taking charge of a Bundesliga match involving Borussia Dortmund for the seventh time. There have been five BVB wins and one draw to date – a 2-2 in Hoffenheim on 16 December 2016. Thomas Stein and Marco Achmüller will be the linesmen. Timo Gerach will be the fourth official. Robert Schröder will be the VAR.
TV recommendation: Hans-Joachim Watzke on Aktuelles Sportstudio
In the evening that follows the game away to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Borussia Dortmund's CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke will appear as a guest on Aktuelles Sportstudio. The ZDF programme with presenter Katrin Müller-Hohenstein will start at 23:00 CEST. It will already be available in the Media Library from 22:30 CEST.
Weather: Dry and mild
The weather forecast for Saturday: A mixture of sunshine and clouds is expected, with temperatures up to 18 degrees. The probability of rain is 0%.
Live broadcast: Sky & Net Radio
The match can be watched live on TV via Sky. The pre-match coverage will start at 14:00 CEST. Britta Hofmann will present the programme, with Dietmar Hamann on punditry duty. The match will be commentated by Jonas Friedrich (picture) and will be on Sky Sport Bundesliga 4. Roland Evers will commentate the simulcast coverage. The BVB Net Radio will give you the usual Black & Yellow take. Boris Rupert and Tobias Reiff will be the reporters. The BVB Net Radio starts 15 minutes before kick-off. It is available to everyone on the homepage and in the BVB app on iPhone and Android devices. Match highlights plus the press conference and match reactions will be available via BVB-TV, among others.
Kits: Blue versus black & yellow
Borussia Dortmund will play in yellow shirts with black shorts and yellow socks. Hoffenheim will play in all-blue strips.
Live ticker: Over to the app
BVB's digital channels operate at full throttle on matchday. And that's not only the case during the match, but throughout the matchday too - starting at 09:09 CEST, of course. In "Matchday Mode", the BVB app (click to download) offers news, pictures, posts, videos, statistics and plenty more match info besides. The live ticker starts at kick-off and updates you on all the important moments. In addition to the live ticker, there will be full match highlights, statistics and first-hand info on our social media channels Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The match report plus reactions and facts will follow on the website and on the app after the final whistle.