There is a sense of excitement at VfB as they return to Bundesliga action after the international break. Fourth-placed Stuttgart face third-placed Borussia Dortmund on Saturday 22 November (15:30 CET), with both teams on 21 points going into Matchday 11.
“We’re looking forward to the match because we get to test ourselves against a top team,” said Sebastian Hoeneß on Thursday, adding: “Playing in Dortmund is one of the most difficult assignments in the Bundesliga.”
The head coach explained what makes BVB so strong in his view: “Borussia Dortmund started the season very well and possess a lot of quality. Niko Kovac has managed to get the team going again and is driving them forward.”
“Create situations and attack with purpose”
“We’ll have to be at 100 percent in every position,” continued the 43-year-old. Being focused in defence and efficient in attack: that’s what it’s about for Hoeneß, who also stressed the need for his side to show determination.
“We have to create situations and attack with purpose – it’s well known that Dortmund don’t give much away.” The statistics prove that: the Black and Yellows boast the second-best defence in the German top flight with seven goals conceded, bettered only by Bayern Munich (six). In third place in this statistic are VfB, who have let in 12 goals.
Question marks over Jaquez and Hendriks
Defenders Luca Jaquez and Ramon Hendriks, who have recently been nursing muscular problems, have started joining in with parts of training again, but both are doubtful for this game.
Ermedin Demirovic, Yannik Keitel and Justin Diehl (all injured) remain sidelined.
