Overview
- Ko Itakura was left out of Japan’s Kirin Cup selection on Tuesday and Gladbach plan a medical check when he returns, leaving his availability for the derby unclear.
- Captain Tim Kleindienst abandoned Tuesday training with muscular discomfort and the club is treating the issue as a precaution, so his participation is uncertain.
- Alexander Blessin, who took charge at the end of September, has used the long break to teach a new defensive system but has limited time with several regular defenders who were on international duty.
- Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac sharply criticized the four‑match international block as 'definitely too much' after multiple players returned slightly ill or delayed and Nico Schlotterbeck trained individually while targeting a possible return this week.
- Clubs warn that the new four‑game Länderspiel cycle increases travel and match load, which raises fatigue and injury risk and will drive more medical checks and short‑term rotation decisions across the Bundesliga.