Lucien Favre cultivated his reputation as a suspect. Although his team from Dortmund is the favorite in the Champions League duel on Wednesday (9 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Champions League and on Sky) with Zenit St. Petersburg, the coach spoke strongly to the internationally rather inconspicuous opponent from Russia. “We need a great performance, we have to press very cleverly and also be very smart when we have possession of the ball,” said the Swiss with a thoughtful expression.
The soccer teacher’s fear of failure in Group F, which is seen as easy, has increased since last week. Because after the big false start at Lazio (1: 3) the second preliminary round game is already a final. The tricky starting position prompted sports director Michael Zorc to make an unmistakable announcement to the professionals: “We mustn’t allow ourselves any more slip-ups and must win.”
The convincing performance against FC Schalke 04 (3-0) last Saturday could serve as a blueprint. However, the Favre team tends to be careless, especially after better performances with alarming regularity. “We talk about it, we know, but we can’t fix it,” said defense chief Mats Hummels, “to work hard every day on the pitch is what we still need to be one of the absolute top teams. But it’s gotten better. “
Fearing a similar setback as in Rome, where the team disappointed immensely, especially in the first half, in addition to Zorc, licensed player boss Sebastian Kehl warned against interpreting the derby victory as an indication of an already successful turnaround: “We have to remain greedy. One game won’t help us. ”Midfielder Thomas Delaney is in good spirits that the team will also show a positive reaction against St. Petersburg:“ I’m not afraid that we won’t qualify for the next round ”. It was the first game in Rome, and there are still many opportunities for us. “
There is much to suggest that Favre will play with a back four, as in the game against Schalke, which BVB had actually replaced with a back three in February. According to Zorc, the noticeable progress in fore checking in the Revierderby had less to do with this change than with the attitude of the professionals.
With similar zeal and similar tactics, the Russians are to be put under pressure from the start and victory is to be forced. It is quite possible that Favre is relying on fresh strength. Marco Reus (77th minute) and Axel Witsel (71st), who were substituted against Schalke shortly before the end, as well as Thorgan Hazard, who had recovered from a torn muscle, could make the starting line-up.
On the other hand, there should be no further rotation in the goalkeeper position. After Favre’s hotly debated measure to temporarily replace the actual goalkeeper Roman Bürki with Marwin Hitz, Bürki now seems to be the first choice again. “Roman is no longer hurt and he is no longer sick,” Favre replied to questions on the subject.
The double winner from Russia, who lost his first group game against Club Brugge after conceding a goal in stoppage time with 1: 2, is not an international heavyweight at the moment. After all, coach Sergej Semak’s team has only won two of the last ten Champions League games and has been waiting for a win for twelve European away games. Nevertheless, Favre warned: “This team lost unnecessarily against Bruges and missed many chances.”
BVB must completely forego spectators against Zenit. The club announced on Wednesday morning. Accordingly, the Ministry of Health of North Rhine-Westphalia rejected an application from BVB to allow 300 viewers because of the coronavirus pandemic. In the Revierderby against Schalke 04 last weekend in the Bundesliga, 300 spectators were allowed. The value of new corona infections per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days in Dortmund is currently 156.9.
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