Köln vs. Dortmund preview: Modeste makes his return
BVB travel to the always rowdy RheinEnergieStadion in hopes of claiming another three points, as Anthony Modeste plays against Köln for the first time since his summer switch.
FC Köln
It's a bit of a homecoming for several attackers on both sides, as strikers Steffen Tigges and Anthony Modeste will face off against the teams that let them go in the summer. 9th place Köln have four draws, but just one loss on the season and have only been victorious once in their last 11 games against Dortmund.
The Billy Goats most recently lost in league play to Union Berlin and drew to lowly Bochum, but lead their group in the Europa Conference League. Köln are hoping that Mark Uth can finally return to the pitch this weekend, but there's a chance he'll be forced to wait one more week.
The ever-quotable Steffen Baumgart proclaimed that, "We are playing at home in front of 50,000 fans. We want to offer them up a footballing festival. - We want to go forward and will attack. We want to defend high and try to win the ball back high up the pitch. We're playing to win, I want to win every game."
Team News
Timo Horn, Jeff Chabot and Sebastian Andersson will not feature, while Uth is questionable.
Borussia Dortmund
Marco Reus is out this weekend after his Revierderby scare, but he'll luckily be able to return to the pitch within the next few weeks. However, the injury bug has hit again for Gio Reyna, who could be out for several games with a muscle strain.
Modeste should start against his former club, but Youssoufa Moukoko will continue to push the 34-year-old, who hasn't started the season well in a black and yellow shirt. This is unlike Jude Bellingham, who's world-class play is heating up transfer rumors about a potential move next summer.
Karim Adeyemi and Donyell Malen are both finally fit, as Edin Terzic will have to tweak the formation slightly to account for the losses of Reus and Reyna. Mats Hummels should pair in a starting center-back duo with Nico Schlotterbeck, while Alexander Meyer will again take charge in goal.
Terzic believes that, "From day 1 we can rely on (Meyer) completely. His qualities on the ball, the calmness he exudes. - Both (Malen and Adeyemi) are making a really good impression right now. Their speed is an additional weapon in our game."
Team News
BVB's lengthy injury list now includes Reus and Reyna, who picked up an injury with the USMNT. Gregor Kobel, Mahmoud Dahoud, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Mateu Morey and Sebastien Haller remain out.