30 January 2015
After a six-week winter break, the Bianconeri’s Champions League last 16 opponents Borussia Dortmund will make their return to Bundesliga action in Saturday’s evening’s away clash against Bayer Leverkusen at 18.30 CET.
Lying third in the table and exhibiting a well-drilled pressing game, particularly on home soil, Leverkusen are the bookmakers’ favourites to emerge victorious against a Borussia side who find themselves embroiled in an unexpected relegation battle.
But Jurgen Klopp’s men have used their time away from competitive action to work well - teaming intense training sessions with four friendly matches - although the absences of Jakub Blaszczykowski, Ilkay Gundogan, Sven Bender, Sebastian Kehl and Erik Durm see them approach the encounter somewhat under strength.
Better news for Klopp, who guided his troops to second place last season, comes in the form of the respective early returns of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Shinji Kagawa from the Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup respectively.
