Mats Hummels, Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund will look to close the seven-point gap between them and leaders Bayern Munich when they take on Hannover 96 on Sunday.
The match will take place on Sunday afternoon at the AWD Arena at 17h30 (CAT).
The German champions are just recovering after a slow start to the season.
But Jürgen Klopp’s team has begun to reach their best again, as they showed in the 5-0 win achieved last week against Borussia Mönchengladbach and in the 1-1 draw in the Champions League against Manchester City.
The distance between Dortmund and league leaders Bayern Munich is still large, seven points. But it was also the same situation last year and did not prevent Klopp’s side from rallying back and taking the title.
Hannover are on a high after they came back from a goal behind and a man down in the opening 10 minutes to beat defeat Europa League Group L rivals Levante 2-1.
But Hannover midfielder Leon Andreasen will be sidelined for six months after tearing cruciate ligaments in his right knee during last week’s 4-1 home win over Nurnberg.
The setback is a bitter blow for Andreasen, 29, who had been playing superbly after returning to first-team action following months on the sidelines with injuries.
Dortmund may be without Mats Hummels and Ilkay Gundogan for this Bundesliga clash.
Hummels was injured in the Champions League on Wednesday with the English champions Manchester City as he suffered a second-half hip injury.
“It’s not broken or cracked. Maybe it’s just a pinched nerve. I cannot make any predictions,” said the 23-year-old.
Gundogan had received a blow on his back during that match. “I still have severe problems,” he said after returning on Thursday.
A study in Dortmund will provide information about the severity of both injuries.