Injury worries as Schalke, Dortmund prepare for 'top derby'

Injury worries as Schalke, Dortmund prepare for 'top derby'

BERLIN - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has compared it to an orgasm, Marco Reus says losing it is forbidden, but Schalke's Marco Hoeger simply believes Saturday's clash at Borussia Dortmund is Germany's biggest derby.

Schalke's midfielder Marco Hoeger believes Saturday's clash at Borussia Dortmund is Germany's biggest derby

But both sides are facing considerable concerns with both illness and injury taking their toll.

"In Germany, there is simply nothing bigger," Schalke midfielder Hoeger told Bundesliga.de.

"To experience the game as a player is a fantastic thing, which every German footballer wishes he can."

Gabon winger Aubameyang, Dortmund's top scorer, raised eyebrows earlier this week by saying: "Derby wins - even if it sounds strange - are almost like an orgasm".

Dortmund-born Reus said losing is not an option at their 80,000-capacity Westfalenstadion ground as Borussia look to avenge September's 2-1 defeat in Gelsenkirchen.

"When you see the blue and white shirts, you know it's going to be a red-hot battle until you drop. Losing is forbidden," said Reus, who last week extended his Borussia contract until 2019.

A bout of flu has hit the Dortmund squad leaving a question mark as to whether Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa, defender Neven Subotic and winger Kevin Kampl will be fit for the 146th derby, while defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos is doubtful with a leg injury.

Kagawa trained with the team on Thursday, but both Subotic and Kampl have been isolated from the squad to lessen the risk of infecting others.

Dortmund have a particular problem on the wings with left-back Erik Durm definitely out with illness, while right-back Lukasz Piszczek will miss the next six weeks with torn ankle ligaments.

To make matters worse, Kevin Grosskreutz, who can cover either position, is also out with a leg injury.

Schalke have similar problems with both goalkeepers injured, meaning teenager Timon Wellenreuther will make only his fifth appearance in Germany's top flight.

Midfielders Jefferson Farfan, Julian Draxler and Leon Goretzka are also out, as is forward Chinedu Obasi, but Schalke have problems in defence with Sead Kolasinac, Joel Matip and Jan Kirchhoff all injured.

Schalke hope to include Klaas-Jan Huntelaar after the Dutch striker returned to training on Monday having bruised his shin in last week's 2-0 Champions League defeat against Real Madrid.

The Dortmund stadium had to be briefly evacuated on Thursday after a 250kg (551 lbs) WWII bomb was found during work on the VIP area.

There is a fascinating clash on Sunday as resurgent Bremen host second-placed Wolfsburg with Dutch striker Bas Dost in hot form having scored nine goals in his last four games in all competitions.

Bremen followed up five straight wins with a 1-1 draw at Schalke last weekend which has taken them from the bottom of the relegation battle to the verge of a European place.

Wolves have won their last four games with Belgium winger Kevin de Bruyne forging a fruitful partnership with Dost, which has already produced 19 goals, and the Dutchman says they must not allow themselves to be caught.

"We are ten points clear of third place, which is outstanding, and we shouldn't give anything away. We have to make sure we finish second," Dost told website ran.de with Wolves eight points behind leader Bayern Munich.

Dost netted four goals alone in Wolves' recent 5-4 thrilling win at Bayer Leverkusen, while Bremen's ex-Chelsea forward Franco di Santo is also in form with four goals in as many games this year.

Fixtures (All times 1430 GMT unless stated)

Saturday:

Borussia Dortmund v Schalke 04, Bayer Leverkusen v Freiburg, Hoffenheim v Mainz 05, Hannover 96 v VfB Stuttgart, Hertha Berlin v Augsburg, Eintracht Frankfurt v Hamburg (1730)

Sunday:

Borussia Moenchengladbach v Paderborn, Werder Bremen v VfL Wolfsburg (1630)

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