BVB line-up against Villarreal: Kovac springs a surprise | OneFootball

Before the Champions League opener against Villarreal, Niko Kovac springs a surprise with his starting lineup. One BVB star’s inclusion in particular is causing a stir.

Borussia Dortmund begin the new Champions League season on Tuesday evening. To open the league phase, BVB host Villarreal at 9 p.m. at Signal Iduna Park. Head coach Niko Kovac is relying on a starting eleven that features several changes compared to the most recent match against Hoffenheim.

Marcel Sabitzer provides a bit of a surprise. The Austrian gets the nod from the start and could take on a more attacking role. It is also possible, however, that Sabitzer will form a three-man midfield alongside Felix Nmecha and Joey Veerman. Veerman is the second new face in Dortmund’s starting lineup and replaces Jobe Bellingham.

In defense, though, Kovac’s options are severely limited. Captain Emre Can is still out after suffering a torn ACL, while Nico Schlotterbeck has only just returned to individual training following an ankle injury. Filippo Mane is also unavailable due to a muscle injury. Ramy Bensebaini is out as well. As a result, Daniel Svensson moves into central defense once again. Maximilian Beier takes over on the left flank instead.

BVB start with Sabitzer and Veerman against Villarreal

Meanwhile, the visitors from Spain are not exactly arriving in Dortmund with momentum on their side. Villarreal, who finished third in La Liga last season, are still waiting for their first win after four competitive matches in the new campaign. That gives BVB the chance to begin this time with a positive result after last season’s early Champions League exit.

Photo: IMAGO

One unusual sight this evening, however, will likely be the stands. Only 39 Villarreal supporters are said to have bought tickets for the match. Because the seats originally reserved for away fans could no longer be reassigned to Dortmund supporters at short notice, several sections with a total of around 4,000 seats will remain empty. The few Spanish fans are instead expected to be placed in part of the West Stand.

BVB lineup: Kobel – Gadou, Anton, Svensson – Ryerson, Nmecha, Veerman, Beier – Karetsas, Sabitzer – Guirassy

BVB bench: Meyer, Drewes, Reggiani, Prates, Bellingham, Chukwuemeka, Inacio, Albert, Silva

Villarreal lineup: Gulacsi – Mourino, Navarro, Veiga, Sergi Cardona – Buchanan, Gueye, Saliba, Santi Comesana – Oluwaseyi, Mikautadze

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.