Borussia Dortmund will hope to have the in-form Donyell Malen fit for their UEFA Champions League last-16 first leg at the Dutchman's former club PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday (kick-off: 9pm CET).
Malen was an unused substitute in Dortmund's 1-1 draw at Wolfsburg on Saturday.
The Netherlands international - who has four goals and an assist to show for his last four Bundesliga appearances - woke up complaining of knee troubles, but is expected to return to the starting line-up for the trip to his former stomping ground.
Marco Reus will likely make way, with Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho set to keep his place alongside Julian Brandt in the attacking triumverate behind Niclas Fullkrug.
It was Fullkrug's sixth goal in as many games that helped Dortmund preserve their unbeaten start to 2024 against the Wolves.
Edin Terzic's team were six points adrift of the top four heading into the winter break, but have muscled their way back into the Champions League places after winning four of six league fixtures so far this year.
The experienced Mats Hummels - who started every game as Dortmund topped Group F ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Newcastle United - could be recalled in defence after being restricted to two substitute appearances since the turn of the year through illness.
Chelsea-owned Ian Maatsen - an ex-PSV youth player - should make his competition debut.
PSV finished second in the Eredivisie last term, but are on course to go one better in 2023/24.
The 24-time Dutch league winners are 10 points clear of defending champions Feyenoord, having gone unbeaten through the first 22 matches of the campaign, whilst only losing twice in all competitions in their second season under former Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen head coach Peter Bosz.
The first of those defeats fell in their opening fixture of the group stage against Arsenal, though they ultimately advanced as runners-up behind the English club, ahead of Lens and Sevilla.
The second was in the last 16 of the cup to Feyenoord.
However, as impressive a season as they're having, PSV's Champions League record against German clubs doesn't inspire a huge amount of confidence.
They've lost eight of their previous 12 meetings, including a 1-3 home reverse at the hands of Dortmund in the 2002/03 groups (W3, D1).
Captain and 27-goal top scorer Luuk de Jong, meanwhile, could only manage two strikes in 36 games against Bundesliga opposition in his Borussia Monchengladbach days.
Bosz is also still without injured winger Noa Lang.
Watch: All Donyell Malen's Bundesliga goals in 2023/24 Match statsMalen scored 55 goals and got 24 assists in 116 appearances for Eindhoven before his 2021 move to Dortmund, where he has 29 goals and 17 assists in 101 games.
The Dutchman has 10 of those goals this season, including four in six in 2024.
Only Fullkrug has more for BVB in 2023/24 (13).
Sancho recorded five goals and six assists in 21 Champions League outings for BVB in his first spell at the club.
Terzic's side have won their last two away games in the Champions League (1-0 at Newcastle United and 3-1 vs.
AC Milan).
The last BVB coach to win three straight away matches in the competition was Jurgen Klopp in 2013/14.
Dortmund won their only previous visit to Eindhoven 3-1 back in the 2002/03 Champions League group stage.
Their overall record in the Netherlands is W2, D1, L2.
Ricardo Pepi (Augsburg), De Jong (Gladbach), Armel Bella-Kotchap (Bochum), Andre Ramalho (Leverkusen and Mainz) and Guus Til (Freiburg) have all previously played in the Bundesliga, while Malik Tillman is on loan from Bayern Munich.
Probable teamsPSV: Benitez - Teze, Ramalho, Boscagli, Dest - Schouten, Veerman - Bakayoko, Til, Lozano - De Jong (c)Out: -Doubtful: Lang (hamstring), Ledezma (match fitness)Coach: Peter BoszDortmund: Kobel - Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen - Sabitzer, Can (c) - Malen, Brandt, Sancho - FullkrugOut: Haller (ankle), Nmecha (hip)Doubtful: Adeyemi (muscular), Bensebaini (ill)Coach: Edin TerzicLIVE blog!Terzic tightening up Edin Terzic's men conceded 25 goals in their opening 17 league matches of the season; impressively, they have shipped just two in their last five.
Bosz knows Dortmund strength Bosz (pictured during his time at Dortmund) is looking forward to certain reunions.
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and not others: "Most of all, I'm looking forward to seeing the people who still work there, to Marco Reus, and above all Julian Brandt, who I know from Leverkusen.
He's a really good player, I'm looking forward to seeing him again.
I hope he won't play against us.
"Bosz to face former club PSV boss Peter Bosz spent barely six months in charge of Dortmund between June and December 2017.
In 24 games at BVB, he recorded eight wins and seven draws before being replaced by Peter Stoger.
A chance for reunions There are a number of familiar faces to both clubs.
Donyell Malen (pictured) made his goalscoring reputation with PSV, netting 55 goals in 116 appearances for them before his summer 2021 move to Germany, while the on-loan Ian Maatsen spent three years at the PSV youth academy before joining Chelsea in 2018.
Malen is a doubt after missing the weekend's draw with Wolfsburg due to a knee injury.
"We didn't want to take a big risk, and we hope he'll be with us on Tuesday," said sporting director Sebastian Kehl.
Leon KuegelerReasons for confidence Dortmund can have confidence though having come through what was widely regarded as the toughest group in this season's competition.
They finished top of Group F ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Newcastle United, securing progress with an impressive 3-1 win in Italy.
Familiar territory for Dortmund Dortmund have reached this stage of the competition in five of the last six seasons, though have only progressed once in their last four attempts.
Hi there! Welcome to live text commentary of Borussia Dortmund's Champions League Round of 16 first-leg tie against PSV Eindhoven.
We'll have all the build-up to kick-off at 9pm CET on Tuesday.
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