MX23RW : Sunday, May 12 19:49:51| >> :120:18644:18644:
[monks data]
Attendance: 22,012
Union Berlin logo
Bundesliga | Gameweek 3
Aug 31, 2019 at 5.30pm UK
 
Dortmund logo

3-1

Bulter (22', 50'), Andersson (75')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Alcacer (25')

Borussia Dortmund lose Thorgan Hazard to rib injury

The Bundesliga leaders head to top-flight newcomers Union Berlin this weekend.

Table leaders Borussia Dortmund will be without winger Thorgan Hazard as they head to the capital to face Union Berlin for the first time in Bundesliga history.

The 26-year-old Belgian suffered a rib injury during Dortmund's 3-1 win over Cologne and will be sidelined for several weeks.

Hazard's absence could create an opening for summer signing Julian Brandt, who has impressed as a substitute this season so far and would be an obvious choice to fill the vacancy in the starting XI.

BVB manager Lucien Favre is not underestimating his newly-promoted opponents, saying in a pre-match press conference: "I've watched the new Union team; they have a few new players, are well organised, have a lot of power and are very athletic."

English winger Jadon Sancho, who has just been named in Gareth Southgate's England squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers, is likely to feature alongside Spanish striker Paco Alcacer – both having scored in Dortmund's opening two games.

Midfielder Axel Witsel has suffered an injury to his adductor is therefore ruled out.

Union Berlin will have to raise their game to challenge the Black and Yellows, having drawn at Augsburg last time and suffering a resounding 4-0 loss to Leipzig prior to that.

Head coach Urs Fischer did not sound defeated in a pre-match press conference however, highlighting the similarities in the two teams' style of play.

"When it comes to speed and transitions, both teams are similar," he said.

"In movement up front, they are very similar teams. We want to improve on the aspects from Leipzig against Borussia Dortmund.

"It's the same as we've said before, we want to develop and learn from our mistakes. You take things from the last game, then observe the individual development of the players."

Fischer will be without centre-back Keven Schlotterbeck, who serves a two-match suspension for his challenge on Augsburg's Florian Niederlechner.

Fellow centre-back Florian Hubner will miss out through injury, with midfielder Grischa Promel sidelined for the same reason.

Nineteen-year-old Maurice Opfermann Arcones is still out due to illness,  whereas midfielder Christian Gentner has returned to training and could participate.

ID:369815: cacheID:369815:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4740:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
A general shot of a Premier League football ahead of the Premier League clash between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on October 30, 2016
Read Next:
Pedersen 'holds talks with Birmingham'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CBayer LeverkusenB. Leverkusen33276087236487
2Bayern MunichBayern33233792415172
3Stuttgart33224774393570
4RB Leipzig33197775373864
5Borussia DortmundDortmund33179764432160
6Eintracht FrankfurtFrankfurt33111394948146
7Hoffenheim33127146264-243
8Freiburg33119134456-1242
9Heidenheim33912124654-839
10Augsburg33109144958-939
11Werder Bremen33109144453-939
12Wolfsburg33107164053-1337
13Borussia MonchengladbachBorussia M'bach33713135663-734
14VfL BochumVfL Bochum33712144170-2933
15Mainz 05Mainz33614133650-1432
16Union BerlinUnion Berlin3386193157-2630
17FC Koln33512162756-2927
RSV Darmstadt 98Darmstadt3338223082-5217


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!