Dortmund’s Kobel, Witsel to Miss Bayern Clash

Dortmund will be without goalkeeper Gregor Kobel for Saturday's Bundesliga showdown at Bayern Munich. (AFP)
Dortmund will be without goalkeeper Gregor Kobel for Saturday's Bundesliga showdown at Bayern Munich. (AFP)
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Dortmund’s Kobel, Witsel to Miss Bayern Clash

Dortmund will be without goalkeeper Gregor Kobel for Saturday's Bundesliga showdown at Bayern Munich. (AFP)
Dortmund will be without goalkeeper Gregor Kobel for Saturday's Bundesliga showdown at Bayern Munich. (AFP)

Borussia Dortmund said they will be without goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and midfielder Axel Witsel for Saturday's top-of-the-table Bundesliga clash with Bayern Munich.

The Dortmund duo's absence follows injury blows to Mats Hummels, Giovanni Reyna, Thomas Meunier and Mahmoud Dahoud in recent weeks.

"In addition to the long-term injury absentees, the coach will be without Gregor Kobel, who has sustained a ligament injury, and Axel Witsel, who will miss out with an infection," the club said on Thursday.

"There are still question marks over Marius Wolf and Dan-Axel Zagadou. A decision on their involvement will be taken based on the final training session on Friday."

In more positive news, Dortmund will be able to call on the services of winger Raphael Guerreiro, who missed their 6-1 win over VfL Wolfsburg through injury.

Bayern, who are top of the league with 72 points, can claim a 10th straight title with a win over second-placed Dortmund.



Dortmund Sacks Coach Sahin

Dortmund's Turkish headcoach Nuri Sahin reacts during the UEFA Champions League football match between Bologna and Borussia Dortmund at the Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna on January 21, 2025. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)
Dortmund's Turkish headcoach Nuri Sahin reacts during the UEFA Champions League football match between Bologna and Borussia Dortmund at the Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna on January 21, 2025. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)
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Dortmund Sacks Coach Sahin

Dortmund's Turkish headcoach Nuri Sahin reacts during the UEFA Champions League football match between Bologna and Borussia Dortmund at the Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna on January 21, 2025. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)
Dortmund's Turkish headcoach Nuri Sahin reacts during the UEFA Champions League football match between Bologna and Borussia Dortmund at the Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna on January 21, 2025. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)

Borussia Dortmund has fired coach Nuri Sahin, the German soccer club said on Wednesday after a shock loss to Bologna in the Champions League that stretched their losing run to four games across all competitions.

"Borussia Dortmund has released head coach Nuri Sahin with immediate effect following an internal analysis of recent sporting developments," said the club in a statement.

Several German media outlets had reported the move earlier.

Borussia Dortmund's 2-1 loss at Bologna increased the pressure on Sahin on Tuesday in Dortmund's fourth consecutive loss at the start of the new year in all competitions.

Serhou Guirassy gave Dortmund the lead with a chipped penalty and ran to celebrate with Sahin.

It looked like the Champions League could provide a much-needed boost for a team floundering in the Bundesliga, but two goals in two minutes from Thijs Dallinga and Samuel Iling-Junior changed the game for previously winless Bologna.