Friendly against Groningen – EURO players in action for the first time

The Foals will take on FC Groningen at BORUSSIA-PARK on Saturday (15:30 CEST) in the final friendly of pre-season. Several European Championship players could make their first appearance.

The Foals' pre-season is drawing to a close, with one final friendly on the schedule: a home game in front of fans at BORUSSIA-PARK. Up to 23,000 spectators will be allowed into the ground to watch the friendly against Dutch first-division side FC Groningen on Saturday (15:30 CEST). "Playing in front of fans in our own stadium again will feel good, so we're really looking forward to the game," said Patrick Herrmann. Tickets are available to purchase on the online ticket portal.  With the purchase of a ticket, Borussia fans can support the "Borussia hilft" (Borussia helps) campaign, as the proceeds from Saturday's match will be donated to the victims of the flood disaster.

Fans coming along to BORUSSIA-PARK on Saturday may see a few of Borussia's international players again for the first time this season. European Championship players Yann Sommer, Nico Elvedi, Marcus Thuram, Matthias Ginter, Florian Neuhaus and Jonas Hofmann returned to club training during the week following their summer breaks, making Wednesday night's 2-0 friendly win over FC Bayern Munich too early for them. "A few of them may be used," said Adi Hütter ahead of the Groningen game - the Foals' final friendly before the first competitive game of the season, away to 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the first round of the DFB-Pokal (Monday 9th August, 20:45 CEST).

A decision on the involvement of Stefan Lainer, who pulled out of the friendly against FC Bayern at short notice due to knee problems, and Lars Stindl, who returned to team training yesterday after overcoming a knee ligament strain, is yet to be made. Denis Zakaria (Coronavirus infection), Alassane Plea (knee capsule), Manu Koné (knee ligament), Breel Embolo (thigh), Ramy Bensebaini (thigh) and Mamadou Doucouré (Achilles tendon - rehabilitation) will all miss out.