Borussia Dortmund will start the round of 16 second leg of the Champions League (9 p.m. / Amazon Prime Video) at Chelsea without first-choice goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
All hopes for a timely recovery of the 25-year-old Swiss, who had already missed the duel with RB Leipzig (2: 1) due to muscular problems in his thigh, were not fulfilled. As against Leipzig, Alexander Meyer will guard the goal of the Bundesliga soccer club, which won the first leg against the English three weeks ago 1-0. However, Kobel sits on the bench and should only be used in an emergency. Back in the squad is attacker Donyell Malen, who is also not in the starting XI.
Christian Pulisic celebrates a comeback with the opponent. The former Dortmund player has not played a competitive game for the Blues since the beginning of January due to persistent knee problems, but is back in the squad for the game against BVB. The 24-year-old American switched from Dortmund to the English top club in 2019 for around 60 million euros.
