Dortmund Confronts Growing Injury Concerns Ahead Of Champions League Clash With Sturm Graz

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Coach Nuri Sahin of Borussia Dortmund is facing a challenging situation with numerous injuries as they prepare for Tuesday's Champions League clash against Sturm Graz. The team, who were runners-up in last season's Champions League final against Real Madrid, are currently missing key players like Karim Adeyemi, Julien Duranville, Gio Reyna, Niklas Sule, Julian Ryerson, and Yan Couto.

Despite these setbacks, Dortmund managed to secure a victory over RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday. This win ended their three-game losing streak across all competitions. However, the upcoming match poses additional challenges with doubts surrounding the availability of goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, defender Waldemar Anton, and winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.

Sahin expressed his concerns about the team's injury situation. "The known absentees remain. I don't think anyone will come back, apart from Almugera Kabar," he mentioned to reporters on Monday. He added that it would be a race against time to determine if Waldi could play and that they had not yet received clearance for Greg.

Dortmund boasts an impressive home record in the Champions League, remaining unbeaten in their last 12 matches at Signal Iduna Park. They have won eight and drawn four of these games. Their only recent home defeat in the group or league phase was against Ajax in November 2021.

Backup goalkeeper Alexander Meyer has been praised for his character and performance. Sahin noted Meyer's popularity within the squad and highlighted his qualities displayed during the weekend match. "To have a number two like that at this level is amazing," Sahin remarked.

Sturm Graz's Struggles and Sabitzer's Excitement

Sturm Graz have struggled this season in the Champions League, losing all three of their matches so far. In contrast, Dortmund experienced a heavy 5-2 defeat against Real Madrid but secured victories over Club Brugge and Celtic prior to that.

Austrian international Marcel Sabitzer is particularly eager about facing Sturm Graz due to personal connections. "I come from Graz; I grew up there," he shared. Sabitzer expressed confidence about the upcoming match: "Our mission is to win tomorrow; that's clear. I'm already feeling better."

Dortmund's current form at home provides some optimism despite their injury woes. As they prepare for Sturm Graz's visit, maintaining their strong home record will be crucial for advancing in the competition.