BVB must do without Kobel in top match against Leipzig

Borussia Dortmund will also be without regular keeper Gregor Kobel for the Bundesliga top match against RB Leipzig. This brings the list of absentees to ten players. "That's quite a house number. I've never seen it like this before," said coach Nuri Sahin ahead of the game on Saturday evening (18:30/Sky). "Greg has slight problems from the Wolfsburg game, he'll also be out tomorrow," reported Sahin, who has come under criticism after losing three competitive games in a row recently.

However, the 36-year-old does not want to cite the lack of personnel as an excuse for the current situation - BVB are currently only seventh in the table and seven points behind Bayern Munich and Leipzig at the top of the Bundesliga. "I'm very confident because I've just seen the training sessions. We will have a good team on the pitch," said Sahin, who is relying on home strength.

"We need the stadium more than ever - even with the personnel situation we are currently in," said the BVB coach. The Westphalians have won every home game so far this season.

Sahin's clear message to RB Leipzig

Sahin took the fact that Leipzig are currently level on points with Bayern and BVB in his stride and sent a clear message to Saxony: "We're not second at the moment. But I don't think it will happen so quickly that anyone will overtake Borussia Dortmund. We've been far too stable for that in recent years."