Borussia Dortmund face a daunting visit to Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday, aiming to pick themselves up from a tame 1-0 home loss to Bayer Leverkusen last weekend.
With the Champions League qualification still not officially achieved yet, the Black and Yellows could come flying out of the blocks here, but their task may be cut out without their talismanic striker, Serhou Guirassy.
The Guinean international was reported to have left a recent training with a knock. According to WAZ, he withdrew from Tuesday's public training session following a rough challenge from Nico Schlotterbeck.
It further reported that Guirassy limped off the pitch with a bandage in his foot after receiving treatment as the 29-year-old was unable to continue.
Now that raises serious concerns about his availability for the game at PreZero Arena on Saturday as he's likely to undergo last-minute scans before he's deemed fit or not.
Should he miss the clash, it could be a massive blow for the Black and Yellows, who have relied on his match-saving equalizers and last-minute winners this season, especially in 2026.
On his last visit to Hoffenheim, Guirassy scored the opener before turning provider for Waldemar Anton's winner in the fifth-minute of stoppage-time.
Besides, Yan Couto is another doubt for the clash as the Brazilian is currently recovering from a muscular problem.
Emre Can has already been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign after suffering an ACL injury during their Der Klassiker defeat to Bayern Munich last month. Felix Nmecha is another confirmed absentee. The German has torn ligament knee.
As for the starting XI, Gregor Kobel will reclaim his position between the sticks, hungry to add to his ever-growing tally of clean sheets while Waldemar Anton, Nico Schlotterbeck and Ramy Bensebaini will operate in the compact back-three in front of him.
Assist-king Julian Ryerson will likely operate on the right, looking to end his three-game drought and add to his tally of 12 league assists (15 overall) while Daniel Svensson could take up the opposite side of the flank.
Marcel Sabitzer and Jobe Bellingham could operate at the base of the midfield. Maxmilian Beier and outgoing Julian Brandt may play off sole striker Fabio Silva, in case Guirassy is ruled out. The Portuguese isn't a natural scorer but makes up for it with his creative instincts, having bagged six assists in the Bundesliga so far this season.
Dortmund's probable starting XI: Gregor Kobel; Waldemar Anton, Nico Schlotterbeck, Ramy Bensebaini; Julian Ryerson, Marcel Sabitzer, Jobe Bellingham, Daniel Svensson; Maximilian Beier, Julian Brandt, Fabio Silva.
Add us as a preferred source on Google