U17s remain confident, while U19s host Schalke

The Borussia U17s are full of confidence as they travel to Leipzig for the second leg of the German Championship semi-final (Saturday, 11:00 CEST, live on Sky). "We want to reach the final," said coach Marco Lehmann. The U19s, who have long secured their ticket for the final round of the German Championship, face a special home game against FC Schalke 04 on Sunday (11:00 CEST at the BVB Youth Performance Centre).

BVB had hoped to take a small lead in the first leg, but despite the 0-0 draw, the Dortmund boys are confident of reaching the final of the U17 German Championship on Sunday, 12 May. "The cards will be reshuffled, small details will probably be decisive. Leipzig put in a top performance in the first game, while we can do better," said Marco Lehmann ahead of the match at Leipzig's training centre on Cottaweg. The BVB coach considers the fact that the hosts will be without their suspended captain Jean Miguel Boog to be a slight advantage, "because he is the brains of the Leipzig team".

The intense encounter in the first leg in extreme temperatures on the May bank holiday took its toll. That's why regeneration was the first priority on the training schedule. "We're ready and will do everything we can to make our dream a reality," emphasised Marco Lehmann, who has worked with his coaching staff to undertake an analysis of the game against Leipzig and has spent time with the players focusing on ways to break down their stubborn defence. "We'll change one or two things," he announced with regard to Saturday's crunch match. If the game in Saxony ends in a draw after 90 minutes, it will be decided by a penalty shoot-out.

The second participant in the final will be determined on Sunday, when Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen face each other. The first match between the champions of the south/south-west and west divisions ended in a 2-2 draw.

Derby as a litmus test for finals 

The clash between BVB and Schalke 04, which is a fierce local derby and the headline match-up in the U19 Bundesliga West, will be of little significance for the league table. Schalke 04 are 23 points behind BVB. The team coached by Norbert Elgert, who have enjoyed a string of successes in recent years, missed their last chance to qualify for the championship finals with a 3-2 defeat against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

"For us, it's a preparation match for the semi-finals of the German championship," explained BVB coach Mike Tullberg. However, he expects his players to be focused and much more aggressive than in their recent 5-2 win in Verl. The derby offers BVB the ideal opportunity to rehearse for the real thing, which will come ten days later with the semi-final first leg against Hertha BSC (Wednesday, 15 May, 18:30 CEST). "We want to win the game," emphasises Tullberg.

Borussia are still without Filippo Mane (torn muscle fibre). Jaden Korzynietz has recovered from his illness and will return to the starting line-up. As will Paris Brunner after his guest appearance for the U23s. Centre-back Tyler Meiser is set to return to the U19 squad for the first time after his long injury lay-off. (wiwi)