Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac has confirmed there will be changes to their lineup against HEBC in the DFB-Pokal clash tonight.
The BVB visit the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg for the first round of the cup, aiming to build on their league win from the weekend against Die Rothosen.
One goal apiece from Serhou Guirassy and Giannis Konstantelias gave them a winning start to the new Bundesliga season on Saturday.
However, we're in for wholsale changes in the starting XI for the HEBC clash with many first-team stars expected to remain on the bench and young guns having a go.
In his press conference ahead of the match, head coach Kovac appeared to confirm it:
"We’ll make a few changes to the starting line-up; a couple of players will carry on playing. We’ll see how the lads who played at the weekend are feeling today. We’ll give others a chance."
It will be interesting to see which players would retain their place in the lineup, but one change that's guaranteed is that of the goalkeeper.
Swiss talisman Gregor Kobel will be replaced by local hero Alex Meyer, who returns to his hometown and will be in goal for the BVB.
"I take every match seriously. What I can say is that Alex will be in goal tomorrow. That’s what we’ve decided with the goalkeeping coach."
Young guns like Enzo Duarte and Mathis Albert could come in for the first time this season too.
Duarte signed a contract extension with Dortmund earlier this month on the back of solid displays in the preseason whereas Albert also scored in the friendly against Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Luca Reggiani is in line to make his first appearance this season for Dortmund whereas Kaua Prates might also see his first start for the club since joining.
Die Borussen are hoping to make a deep run in the cup after another disappointing Round of 16 exit last year at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen, who pulled off a narrow 1-0 win in Dortmund.
Champions in 1965, 1989, 2012, 2017 and 2021, the BVB are looking to half a decade long wait for a sixth title in the competition.
They also haven't lost out in the first round of the DFB-Pokal since Eintracht Braunschweig knocked them out in a 2-1 comeback victory in 2005-06 season.
Despite a raft of changes, Dortmund are widely expected to prevail against the amateur HEBC side.
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