dpa
Dusseldorf
Donyell Malen could be starter despite transfer rumours when Borussia Dortmund take on champions Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga restart on Friday night.
Dutch winger Malen is reportedly aiming to join Aston Villa but Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin said on Wednesday that he “will be part of the squad and is also a candidate for a place in the starting 11.”
The match ends a three-week hibernation period, and Sahin hopes for a good result after Dortmund had a difficult first part of the season.
They are ranked a modest sixth, seven points behind Leverkusen in second, and 11 off leaders Bayern Munich.
“I am glad that we are now playing against a benchmark like Leverkusen. We will be ready on Friday,” Sahin said.
“A win would be extremely important for the table. We’re playing against a top opponent. We’ve always performed well against these teams so far.
“We want to get into a flow for the new year with a good game.” Dortmund will be without suspended Pascal Gross, Waldemar Anton is ill and Niklas Süle sidelined long-term. But Marcel Sabitzer is back in training.
Dortmund are unbeaten at home in the league and finally got their first win away there in their last match in December, 3-1 at Wolfsburg.
But Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen found their form from the past season lately as they enter the match with eight victories across all competitions.
Sahin said that Leverkusen have “achieved what we want to and will achieve.
“Xabi Alonso has changed everything at Leverkusen. He has stabilised them and has added more and more. They are exceptionally good. It’s a team that has a lot of control in the game - but we want that too.
I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
