Fourth-tier side Phonix Lubeck will be looking to upset the odds when they host giants Borussia Dortmund at Volksparkstadion in the first round of the DFB-Pokal on Saturday.
The home side are currently 10th in the Regionalliga North division and have three points after two games, while the visitors' 2024-25 Bundesliga season will begin against Eintracht Frankfurt on August 24.
Match preview
The nominal hosts began their league campaign with a 2-0 defeat against Blau-Weiss Lohne on August 3, before they beat Oldenburg 3-1 on August 10.
This is the fifth consecutive season that Phonix Lubeck have been in the fourth tier, and last term they finished third in their division with 65 points.
Phonix Lubeck qualified to the first round of the DFB-Pokal as one of 24 representatives of the German football federation's 21 regional associations.
The game against Borussia Dortmund has been described as the biggest in their history, and though manager Christiano Adigo has acknowledged that his side are not favourites, he has insisted that their status as underdogs means they have nothing to lose.
As for the match itself, Hamburg's Volksparkstadion is to be used instead of their own 3000-seater stadium due to the fact that Buniamshof does not meet the security requirements of the DFB-Pokal.
Opponents Borussia Dortmund will be glad that 2023-24 is behind them given their fifth-placed league finish and their heartbreaking defeat in the Champions League final against Real Madrid on June 1.
It is notable that Dortmund's league placement last term was their lowest since 2014-15, when they finished seventh.
It was no surprise that Edin Terzic, who had long been criticised for his perceived excessive pragmatism and inability to win at crucial moments, left the club at the end of the season.
Nuri Sahin was appointed as his replacement after being promoted from the position of assistant manager, and it seems that the former Black and Yellow player intends to implement a more front footed and attacking style of football.
Last season, Dortmund were eliminated from the DFB-Pokal after they lost 2-0 against Stuttgart on December 6 in the round of 16.
Sahin's side last won the DFB-Pokal in 2020-21 and have won 13 of their last 16 matches in the competition.
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Team News
Given the historic nature of the clash for Phonix Lubeck, it would not be surprising to see them field a strong starting lineup against Dortmund.
This could mean that boss Adigo fields the likes of Obinna Iloka and Kevin Ntika as centre-backs in front of goalkeeper Carl Leonhard.
As for the visitors, they could start an experienced midfield trio of Marcel Sabitzer, Emre Can and Pascal Gross in order to help younger talents such as Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Julien Duranville.
However, Sahin will have to contend with the absence of Serhou Guirassy until at least September due to a knee injury.
Phonix Lubeck possible starting lineup:
Leonhard; Bock, Iloka, Ntika, Sadrifar; Obushnyi, Jablonski; Adou, Stover, Kraev; Ihde
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Couto, Coulibaly, Sule, Kabar; Sabitzer, Can, Gross; Adeyemi, Duranville, Bynoe-Gittens
We say: Phonix Lubeck 1-5 Borussia Dortmund
Although Dortmund are likely to name several less experienced players in their starting XI, their quality should still see them emerge as comfortable victors.
It would not be surprising if Sahin's side took an early lead, but Phonix Lubeck will no doubt have moments of threatening play, particularly during set pieces.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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