Dortmund to go full-throttle in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf - Perched ominously above the relegation zone after earning just three points from their last eight games, Fortuna Düsseldorf will hardly have been looking forward Saturday evening's clash with Borussia Dortmund (kick-off 18:30 CET).
Intimidating guests
And in the wake of that performance by Jürgen Klopp's side against Real Madrid CF on Wednesday, the butterflies are sure to be fluttering in Düsseldorf stomachs.
With the return leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final coming up on Tuesday in the Spanish capital, Dortmund will be eager to maintain their rhythm in order to secure what would be only their second ever final appearance in Europe's premier club competition.
As such, Klopp will field much the same side that dazzled Ronaldo and Co. at the Signal-Iduna-Park, although right-back Lukasz Pisczek will miss out with an adductor muscle tear, meaning the versatile Kevin Großkreutz is likely to fill the void. Ilkay Gündogan may also be rested as a precaution after complaining of neck pains.
No mercy
"It would be incredible if we were able to play Real off the park, make a couple of changes and continue seamlessly where we left off against Düsseldorf," said Klopp. "Our aim is to finish second [in the league] and we're not there yet. It'll be an awkward game - they've got a sold-out stadium and it's one of the highlights of the year for them."
Robert Lewandowski, who made history on Wednesday by becoming the first player to score four goals in a Champions League semi-final, will be hoping to extend his sensational scoring streak to 13 consecutive Bundesliga games. His partners in crime in attack, Marco Reus and FC Bayern Munich-bound Mario Götze, have also been declared fit and ready.
Kruse returns
Despite Düsseldorf's poor form, the hosts do have cause for optimism heading into what on paper appears to be a foregone conclusion. Coach Norbert Meier has called on his charges to draw on the same spirit that saw them to return home with a 1-1 draw from the reverse fixture on Matchday 14. "We need to focus on what made us strong at the Signal-Iduna-Park," the 54-year-old said. "We had our fans in raptures that time and we need to put in an equally disciplined performance."
Their chances of snatching an unlikely result were boosted with the news that Australian international Robbie Kruse will return to the side after missing out last week through injury. However, there was no such luck for Japanese midfielder Genki Omae, who is on the sidelines after damaging ankle ligaments on his starting debut against Hamburger SV.
Possible line-ups:
Düsseldorf: Giefer - Levels, Latka, Malezas, J. van den Bergh - Lambertz, Bodzek - Reisinger, Tesche, Bellinghausen - Kruse
Dortmund: Weidenfeller - Großkreutz, Santana, Hummels, Schmelzer - Kehl, Sahin - Blaszczykowski, Götze, Reus - Lewandowski
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