Ahead of Borussia Dortmund game: Two key Hoffenheim players test positive for COVID-19

Just one day before their game against Borussia Dortmund, TSG Hoffenheim have announced that two players have tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from international duty.

The Sinsheim based club announced on Friday that the players who tested positive for COVID-19 were on international duty over the past two weeks. Pavel Kaderabek is also in quarantine after a family member contacted the virus. According to Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung, the two players infected are Bundesliga top scorer Andrej Kramaric and defender Kasim Adams.

The two players have not shown any symptoms of the disease, and did not have any contact with their teammates or coaching staff. So TSG Hoffenheim’s game against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday is not at risk at the moment.The COVID-19 tests of all other Hofofenheim players and staff came back negative on Thursday, as well as last Tuesday.

Losing Andrej Kramaric, who has scored eight goals in four games so far this season, will be a big blow for Hoffenheim. The Croatian international also netted four times the last time Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund faced off back in June.

Borussia Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji also tested positive for COVID-19 last week while on international duty with Switzerland. The 25 year old remains symptom-free, but will remain in quarantine until October 17, and will miss the game against Hoffenheim.

The Black and Yellows will also be without Nico Schulz, Thorgan Hazard (both hamstring), Dan-Axel Zagadou and Marcel Schmelzer (both knee), but Jadon Sancho and Roman Bürki are set to return to the side.