Valdez to sit out of Bayern match
Borussia Dortmund striker Nelson Valdez will have to miss the teams match against Bayern Munich next week. The Paraguayan international picked up his 5th booking of this season resulting in an automatic one match ban.
Valdez' suspension will no doubt cause Jurgen Klopp some problems as his team is already riddled with injuries at the moment.
Dortmund suffer 2nd defeat in a row
Borussia Dortmund 2 - 3 Eintracht Frankfurt
Borussia Dortmund played host to Eintracht Frankfurt, who hadn't won at Dortmund since 1991. But the visitors walked away victorious today.
The first half of the match came to be a very evenly matched affair, with both sides having plenty of possession and attempts at goal. It was the away team that managed to open the scoring though. With 7 minutes played Benjamin Kohler leaped to meet a Patrick Ochs cross, and powered home a header.
Frankfurt nearly added a second minutes later when Altintop got some space at the edge of the box but Marc Ziegler was quick off his line to muffle out any attack.
On the 15th minute Dortmund managed to pull a goal back. Grosskreutz's corner was cleared only as far as Mohamed Zidan who played the ball back into the box where Mats Hummels was quick to react to put the ball in the back of the net.
Both teams had their fair share in chances on goal but Frankfurt were the closest to adding to their tally. Altintop managed to shot past Ziegler in the 27th minute but Mats Hummels was quick to clear the ball off the line, and just a few minutes later Altintop again had another great chance but failed to materialise a free header.
On the 39th minute Barrios was clear on goal but quick reactions by the goalkeeper ensured that the Dortmund hitman didn't score.
So at halftime the teams remained on level terms at 1-1.
The second half both teams took a while to get into the match shot wise, both teams kept plenty of possession though.
Dortmund then took the lead in the 56th minute. Owomoyela done well to retain possession of the ball in the oppositions box, he played the ball out to Zidan who crossed the ball into the box. Barrios was there to slot home from a few yards.
Dortmund went on to create a few good chances but the Frankfurt goalkeeper was on good form. In the 64th minute a Frankfurt corner was cleared out to Jung who fired a shot from 20 yards but it took a deflection on the way and Ziegler had no chance. The score levelled at 2-1.
The match livened up as both teams went all out for the winner. Dortmund came closest when a scramble in front of goal failed to materialise. It was then in the 73rd minute when Frankfurt took the lead. Meier took advantage of some slack defending to shoot past Ziegler.
Dortmund had the best chance after that just 1 minute away from the end of regulation time, Santana managed to head over the bar from 2 yards.
Borussia Dortmund: Ziegler- Owomoyela, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer, K. Großkreutz, Sahin, Le Tallec, Zidan, Valdez, Barrios
Eintracht Frankfurt: Nikolov- Jung, Franz, Russ, Spycher, Chris, P. Ochs, Meier, Teber, Köhler, Halil Altintop
Zidan: “Dortmund and BVB are my home.”
Recent Africa Cup Champion Mohamed Zidan has made clear where is home is. Zidan gave a brief interview after landing in Dusseldorf on return from his country. "I am full of joy, motivation, self-confidence, and full of energy," said the Dortmund attacker. Zidan is expected to play on Sunday against Eintracht Frankfurt (17.30). "I can hardly wait to get back out there," said the 29 year old Egyptian.
Over his role in the Africa Cup he had this to say, "I played an important role. I missed the Final of the last cup when I was with Mainz because we were in a relegation battle. I had to watch the final in a hotel in Hamburg." Zidan did not have to watch from abroad again, he played in this years final and assisted on the goal. "We were outnumbered, 2 against 4. I played a pass beyond three defenders and right into the path of Mohamed Gedo. One touch, shot, goal!"
Today Zidan returns to Dortmund. "Now I am finally home. Dortmund is my home." The smile he gave only showed his sincerity. Zidan received numerous texts from teammates before all of the games in Africa and he said he was floored to receive them. Zidan even talked on the phone with Owomoyela "every two or three days."
Borussia Dortmund against Eintracht Frankfurt: Preview
Borussia Dortmund look to splash doubts of a lack of good form and are setting their sights on Frankfurt. Dortmund fell last weekend 1-4 against a strong Suttgart side away from home. The Westfalen return home and will have the support of 70,000 or more fans rooting for them for the clash against Frankfurt on Sunday (17.30).
Dortmund will have Mohamad Zidan back in the squad and it appears that Sven Bender is fit. Bender will be a game time decision, but in training today he had no pain from an earlier complication from the knee. Dortmund will be missing star midfielder Kuba who is suffering from back problems. Felipe Santana is still making a recovery from a bone bruise but the prognosis is looking better.
Frankfurt have a strew of their own players missing but much of their starting eleven has not been badly effected. Big Star missing from Frankfurt is the Greek forward Amanatidis. Dortmund can cushion their lead on Frankfurt in a European place with a win. Frankfurt is eight points behind Dortmund and a win would see Dortmund move eleven points clear of Frankfurt. Dortmund currently sit fourth in the table on 36 points and are looking ambitiously to play European football this year.
Possible Lineups:
Borussia Dortmund: Ziegler - Owomoyela, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer - Bender (Santana), Sahin - Valdez, Zidan, Großkreutz - Barrios.
Bench: Höttecke - Dede, Hünemeier, Santana, Hajnal, Götze, Ginczek, Stiepermann.
Questionable: Bender, Barrios, Santana.
Missing: Weidenfeller, Kuba, Kehl, Tinga, Feulner, Rangelov, Öztekin.
Eintracht Frankfurt: Nikolov - Franz, Russ, Chris, Spycher - Teber - Ochs, Meier, Liberopoulos, Köhler - Altintop.
Bench: Fährmann - Jung, Heller, Tsoumou, Caio, Toski, Titsch-Rivero
Questionable: Chris, Teber.
Missing: Petkovic, Vasoski, Bajramovic, Korkmaz, Clark, Fenin, Amanatidis, Schwegler, Tosun, Alvarez.
Referee: Unknown
Yellow Card Tally: Barrios, Sahin, Valdez, Schmelzer (all 4) - Teber (9), Ochs (4).
Attendance: 70,000(unofficial number)
Dortmund Captain Kehl back in training
Sebastian Kehl has made his return to the training ground after months of abdominal injury troubles. The Captain for Dortmund held an individual training session with coaching staff and the results were positive. Juergen Klopp, "Everything is forward from here." Kehl however, will not be expected on the bench or in the team this weekend as BVB medical staff want to take their time with the long injured defensive midfielder. Kehl has been out since the beginning of the season, and training staff would prefer to take his recovery slow.
Bender Questionable against Frankfurt, Champion Zidan returns to squad
Sven Bender is questionable for this weekends clash with Eintracht Frankfurt. The U-19 European Champion is recovering from inflammation in his knee. Bender is showing signs of good recovery and could make his way back on the pitch for Dortmund this weekend. Bender has started six times in a row for BVB, and all six times have resulted in a win. Bender was absent from last weekends clash with VfB Stuttgart and the improvisation didn't work well. Hummels was out of his element in the defensive midfield position and Hummels replacement Santana had an own goal. Dortmund will be hoping for a return of the young star in order to lay to rest any questions of a possible slip in form for BVB.
Mohamad Zidan is returning a champion form the Africa Cup. Dortmund front office will be honoring Zidan for the accomplishment when he returns from his home country Egypt. Zidan is expected to report for team training on Thursday and will be ready and fit for this weekends game. Dortmund is welcoming the return of their play maker as the injury list grows. Still questionable for this weekend are Santana and Kuba.
Stuttgart vs BVB
VFB STUTTGART - BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Sunday, 31. January 2010, (Mercedes-Benz-Arena)
Following on from their win against Hamburg, Borussia Dortmund travel to face Stuttgart at the Mercedes-Benz-Arena. Klopp's side are currently on a 12 match unbeaten run, notching up 6 wins in a row.
Stuttgart are currently sitting in 11th place and are eager to progress further up the table. But Stuttgart have only managed to win twice in the last 9 meetings between these sides. Only once in the last 4 at home. Dortmund are sitting in 4th place after their recent good run.
VfB Stuttgart: Lehmann - Celozzi, Niedermeier, Tasci, Molinaro - Träsch, Khedira - Hilbert, Hleb - Marica, Pogrebnyak.
Substitutes: Ulreich - Osorio, Boulahrouz, Hitzlsperger, Gebhart, Boka, Rudy, Cacau, Kuzmanovic, Schieber.
Doubtful: Cacau .
Injured: Lanig , Delpierre .
Borussia Dortmund: Ziegler - Owomoyela, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer - Bender (Santana), Sahin - Kuba, Valdez, Großkreutz - Barrios.
Subtitutes: Höttecke - Koch, Dede, Santana, Hajnal, Götze, Ginczek, Stiepermann.
Doubtful: Bender , Sahin .
Injured: Weidenfeller , Kehl, Tinga , Zidan (Afrika-Cup), Feulner , Rangelov , Öztekin.
Valdez and Dortmund smash HSV, secure 4th place
Borussia Dortmund secured fourth place in stunning fashion in a convincing win over Hamburger SV. The Dortmund machine keeps plowing through league opponents and found their next victim in HSV. Dortmund dominated the game for 60 minutes before the guests could react. Nelson Valdez scored the winning goal in the 36th minute off of a smashing strike that left HSV keeper Frank Rost helpless. The Dortmund faithful were elated with joy and the goal turned out to be the winner. HSV were helpless in the first half and were lucky not to go down by two goals or more. Kuba suffered a knock to his mouth and spewed blood on the sidelines. He wasn't to be taken out of the game though and came back with a bang in the second half. Kuba created many chances down the right side but Dortmund failed to capitalize. Barrios had perhaps the best chance in the second half to make it 2-0, leaving Mathijsen in the dust off of a turn but Frank Rost was able to parry the ball away. HSV's best chance was from Mladen Petric late in the second half when the ex-Dortmund striker grazed the top of the netting off of a fine header from a dangerous cross. It wasn't to be for HSV and Dortmund fans can now celebrate 4th place in the league. The Klopp side are showing they may have something to say in the title run still, but for now have created a distance of 8 points from themselves from the following pack for European places.
Lineups:
Borussia Dortmund:
Concern for BVB over the fitness of Kuba ahead of Tuesday’s DFB Pokal Tie
On the back of the draw against Leverkusen on Friday. Dortmund go into the Pokal tie against Vfl Osnabrueck on Tuesday with slight concern over the fitness of Polish Winger Jakub "Kuba" Blaszczykowski as he was taken off halfway through the game on Friday after complaining of trouble in his thigh muscles as this is a problem that has afflicted him before and has on more than one occasion kept him out for long periods. Klopp no doubt wasn't going to take any chances with him. Though this has now put his participation for the game on Tuesday in doubt Coach Klopp was quoted as saying "We hope that this time is not so bad and Jakub can play in the cup game." .
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