Champions League
BVB to Newcastle without Ryerson
Julian Ryerson (l) will be missing from BVB in Newcastle. photo
© David Inderlied/dpa
BVB is under pressure in the fight for a place in the round of 16 in the Champions League. A defeat at Newcastle United would significantly worsen the situation.
Borussia Dortmund has to play the third group game Champions League on Wednesday (9 p.m. / DAZN) at Newcastle United without full-back Julian Ryerson.
“He called in sick this morning. Otherwise everyone is on board,” said sports director Sebastian Kehl as the Bundesliga soccer team departed from Dortmund airport.
Despite the poor record so far with just one point from two games against Paris Saint-Germain (0:2) and AC Milan (0:0), Kehl was confident about the team’s recent rise in the Bundesliga: “We are “We’re in good shape and have gained stability. That’s why we’re in a position to get something there.” The sports director expects a heated atmosphere: “It will really get going.”
A difficult task awaits BVB, who have recently won the championship race five times, in the north of England. The up-and-coming Premier League club leads the table after a convincing 4-1 win at home over supposed group favorites Paris and is three points ahead of Dortmund.
BVB coach Edin Terzic is hoping for a similar turnaround as in the domestic league: “The Champions League is the next competition in which we want to make up for something.”