Borussia Dortmund will have to do without Jamie Bynoe-Gittens at the start of the Champions League. The 18-year-old young professional, who dislocated his shoulder in his team's 1-0 win against Hoffenheim, is not in the squad for the first group game on Tuesday (6.45 p.m. / Amazon Prime) against FC Copenhagen.
As coach Edin Terzic announced, it has not yet been decided whether the injury can be treated conservatively or whether Bynoe-Gittens needs surgery.
In addition, Donyell Malen, who has been missing from BVB for three games due to a muscle injury, is also questionable. Terzic also left open whether national player Karim Adeyemi (foot injury) would return to the squad. On the other hand, Raphael Guerreiro is available again. The full-back was absent against Hoffenheim because of illness.
"We are the favorites against FC Copenhagen"
New signing Salih Özcan sees Borussia Dortmund under pressure at the start of the Champions League. "We are the favorites against FC Copenhagen and should win two games," said the 24-year-old midfielder to "Ruhr Nachrichten" before the home duel with the Danish champions. With a win, the runners-up in the Bundesliga could gain courage for the upcoming tricky away games at Manchester City and FC Sevilla.
According to the former Cologne player, the favorite to win the group is the English champions around the former Dortmunders Ilkay Gündogan, Manuel Akanji and Erling Haaland. Özcan's anticipation of the duels with Sevilla is particularly great. "A disgusting squad, we want to show them that we can also play disgustingly," commented the Turkey international.
Although FC Copenhagen are considered outsiders in Group G with the other BVB opponents Manchester City and FC Sevilla, Terzic goes into the game against the Danish champions with great respect: "They have a very good mix of experienced and young players. They are strong and very aggressive. It will be an exciting task for us."
The expected lineups:
Borussia Dortmund: Kobel - Meunier, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Guerreiro - Bellingham, Özcan - Brandt, Reus, Hazard - Modeste
FC Copenhagen: Ryan - Diks, Khocholava, Vavro, Kristiansen - Zeca, Falk - Haraldsson, Claesson, Daramy - Cornelius
Referee: François Letexier (France)
