Between their UEFA Champions League games against Zenit St. Petersburg and Club Brugge, Borussia Dortmund will travel away to Arminia Bielefeld in the Bundesliga on Saturday (kick-off at 15:30 CET).

"We've prepared for the many games, but we have the possibility to rotate heavily," said Lucien Favre at the pre-match press conference, raising the prospect that there will be new faces in the team. He will still be without Marcel Schmelzer (rehab following knee operation), Dan-Axel Zagadou (torn lateral collateral ligament) and Emre Can (Covid-19). Nico Schulz is also unlikely to feature in Bielefeld. The coach otherwise has many options at his disposal.

BVB are set to face the East Westphalians for the first time since the 2008/09 season. Back then, they drew 0-0 in Bielefeld before strolling to a 6-0 win in Dortmund. The Black & Yellows are third in the table, having won each of their last three matches in all competitions, while 14th-placed Arminia have lost their last three games.

Lucien Favre has observed the opposition in four matches. "We need to prepare ourselves for all possibilities. Perhaps they'll press us at home; perhaps they'll sit back," said Favre of the newly-promoted outfit coached by Uwe Neuhaus.

Neuhaus was the assistant coach in Dortmund from 1998 to 2004 and then took charge of the reserves. "We had a very good working relationship with Uwe over the course of many years," said sporting director Michael Zorc. "As a head coach, he's had an outstanding rise to the top division. I'm absolutely delighted for him. It'll be great to see him."
Christina Reinke

BVB TV by 1&1: Press conference prior to Arminia Bielefeld