Doubts at Dortmund: Guirassy, Can, and Süle could miss the match against Freiburg.
Niko Kovac's team faces several unknowns in its lineup due to suspensions and physical discomfort.
Borussia Dortmund , Barça 's Champions League quarter-final opponents , could face Saturday's Bundesliga match against Freiburg (3:30 PM) with several significant absences. According to 'kicker', two key players, Nico Schlotterbeck and Yan Couto (ex- Girona ) , are suspended and will not be able to play. Added to this is the uncertainty surrounding the availability of Emre Can , Niklas Süle and Serhou Guirassy , who are all suffering from fitness problems.
Coach Niko Kovac acknowledged in Thursday's press conference that he's still unclear about which players he'll be able to call upon: "It's very difficult for me to say anything concrete. We currently have two center-backs injured and one suspended. First, I have to wait until tomorrow and decide what we'll do this weekend."
Can , who played in the 3-1 win over Mainz , is suffering from discomfort in his adductor area. Süle , meanwhile, suffered a heavy blow in the previous match, which caused a hematoma in the hip area. As for Guirassy , who sat out the last match due to muscular problems, Kovac explained that "he is on the road to recovery." The coach intends to assess the physical condition of the three players in training on Friday and decide if they can be included in the squad.
Adding to these uncertainties within the squad is the uncertainty surrounding Dortmund 's tactical system . Against Mainz , Kovac opted for a three-man defense and a double striker, but has yet to confirm whether he will repeat the strategy. "A three-man defense, a four-man defense... it's always flexible," he explained. "We want to be a versatile and adaptable team so we're not predictable to our opponents."
Schlotterbeck 's absence will be particularly painful, as the center-back played a prominent role in the last match with two assists and was given a 2.0 kicker rating. "He's a very important player for our defensive line, whether we have three or four players at the back," Kovac emphasized . "I'm convinced that if everyone is available, we can compensate. But if we lose more players, then we'll have to rethink a lot of things."
In midfield, the good news for Dortmund is the possible return of Felix Nmecha . The midfielder already participated in full training on Thursday and, barring any setbacks, could be available for the match in Freiburg .
Dortmund 's schedule is relentless, as Saturday's match will see key matches, including a visit to Barcelona in the Champions League and the Clásico against Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
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