Borussia Dortmund hosts Bayern Munich in Saturday’s “Der Klassiker,” Germany’s version of La Liga’s ‘El Clasico,’ in the midst of a huge injury crisis. Infact, the BVB’s entire starting defense that it won the double with in 2012 is missing through injury. Center backs Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic have bothbeen lost to long-term injuries, while Marcel Schmelzer and Lukasz Piszczek are also unavailable. Earlier this week, Dortmund coach Jurgen Kloppsigned free agent Manuel Friedrich as cover for his ailing defense.
“I have never seen such an extreme situation at Dortmund,” said Dortmund CEO Hans-JoachimWatzke. “Our entire defense with which we won the double (in 2012) has been obliterated. We should not be talking about the title now. We have to keep on their heels.”
Bayern,which recently set a German record with its 37th consecutive Bundesliga game without defeat, is not without its injuries, too. Ballon d’Or contender Franck Ribery will miss thegame with a cracked rib, and vice captain Bastian Schweinsteiger is also still a long-term absentee.
Though Dortmund is only four points behind Bayern, the media has labeledSaturday’s clash at Signal Iduna Park a must-win game if the BVB wants to sustain a title challenge against Pep Guardiola’s men.