DORTMUND: Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck will make his Champions League return at home to Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, with the German team determined to improve their defending.
Dortmund, seconds away from an upset win at Juventus two weeks ago, had to settle for a 4-4 draw after the Italians scored twice in stoppage time.
Schlotterbeck, who suffered a serious knee injury in April, has played in Dortmund’s last two Bundesliga matches.
His return was also welcomed by Germany Julian Nagelsmann who confirmed he would select the defender for next month’s World Cup qualifiers.
“The last two games were good,” Schlotterbeck told a press conference on Tuesday. “But I know I can play much better. I can add 10 or 20 percent and would be happy if I could do it.”
For Dortmund coach Niko Kovac, Schlotterbeck’s return is perfect timing.
“Turin, 4-4, but those last two goals...the team is determined to defend better,” Kovac said. “We wanted to work on this part of the game. We did it well in the last couple of matches.”
Dortmund are on a four-game winning run in the Bundesliga following their 2-0 victory at Mainz 05 on Saturday, with four clean sheets.
“We have done it well in the last few games. I see a development. Everyone is determined to do it better. If they don’t t do it will be hard for our team,” Kovac said.
Kovac will have top striker Serhou Guirassy back in the squad after the Guinea international missed the win over Mainz, following an injury during the warmup.
“Serhou completed the final training and it all went well,” Kovac said. “I don’t think there will be any surprise so it looks like he will be ready for tomorrow.”
Schlotterbeck returns to boost Dortmund backline against Bilbao
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Schlotterbeck returns to boost Dortmund backline against Bilbao
- Schlotterbeck, who suffered a serious knee injury in April, has played in Dortmund’s last two Bundesliga matches
- His return was also welcomed by Germany Julian Nagelsmann
Two own goals save Arsenal blushes against Wolves
LONDON: Arsenal avoided a major embarrassment against Premier League bottom club Wolves on Saturday, benefiting from two own goals — one in stoppage time — to win 2-1 and move five points clear of Manchester City.
Manager Mikel Arteta admitted that his team had struggled to create clear chances and that the win should have been much more comfortable.
But he said that the manner of the victory would give the team a major boost.
“That gives you belief that regardless of how the game goes, you can always find a solution to win it,” he told TNT Sports.
“But now we’re going to have a clean week. We need to start to train certain aspects slowly, because if you don’t train them, you start to deteriorate a little bit.”
Arteta’s men were blunt in the first half, failing to muster a single shot on target as Gabriel Martinelli wasted a clutch of chances.
The Arsenal boss made three changes shortly before the hour mark, bringing on Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino for Martinelli, Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi.
The Gunners mounted wave after wave of attacks, and Declan Rice’s shot midway through the second half — their first on target — was well saved by Sam Johnstone.
But in the 70th minute the sheer weight of pressure told to the enormous relief of an impatient and nervy Emirates crowd.
Johnstone flicked Bukayo Saka’s corner onto a post as he scrambled to reach the ball but it rebounded back onto his arm and into the net for an own goal.
Gabriel Jesus came on for Viktor Gyokores for his first home match after 11 months out injured.
Astonishingly, Wolves pulled level in the 90th minute, when Mateus Mane’s flat cross was headed in by Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare.
But just as the Arsenal fans contemplated a damaging draw, the Gunners benefited from a second own goal.
Saka delivered a perfect cross which Jesus attacked but the ball was diverted into his own net by Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera.
Winless Wolves, with a ninth league defeat in a row, have mustered just two points from their 16 games so far and are on course for the worst season in Premier League history.
Pep Guardiola’s City travel to in-form Crystal Palace on Sunday seeking to close the gap to Arsenal, who have not won the Premier League since 2004.
