Dortmund braced for 'most unusual derby in history' as Bundesliga returns

Borussia Dortmund's young stars Erling Braut Haaland and Jadon Sancho will be hunting more goals on Saturday in " most unusual derby in history" against Schalke as German Bundesliga returns behind locked doors. Dortmund usually expect 82,000 spectators at Signal Iduna Park for a home derby, but stadium will be near-empty with only a handful of media and officials admitted. Even national team coach Joachim Loew will t be allowed in to watch his Germany players live on ir return to action.

"It will be most unusual derby in history," former Dortmund captain Sebastian Kehl told German daily Welt.

rmally, a home derby against Schalke comes alive "through fans, from ir emotions, from enthusiasm in stadium," Kehl added. Dortmund are looking to close four-point gap behind leaders Bayern Munich, who visit Union Berlin on Sunday. However, Dortmund's iconic south stand, dubbed " Yellow Wall" and rmally packed with 25,000 passionate fans will - like rest of stadium - stand empty.

" players will miss chance for extra motivation by fans and atmosphere," admitted Kehl.

While league action in England, Spain and Italy is still at least a month away, German Football League (DFL) has drawn up detailed hygiene guidelines to restart. Bundesliga is set to become first top European league to return during pandemic, which has so far claimed around 7,700 lives in Germany. At games around country, substitutes will wear masks, goal celebrations will be replaced by elbow taps while handshakes and hugs before kick-off are a -go.

"A lot of things will start from scratch on Saturday," Dortmund winger Julian Brandt told Sky.

"re will be real advants and disadvants to playing home or away.

"In end, it depends on who best accepts this situation and can best deal with it." 

pressure is on Haaland, 19, and Sancho, 20, to continue ir goal-rich partnership, despite empty terraces, and steer injury-depleted Dortmund to victory. Midfield enforcers Emre Can and Axel Witsel are out with muscle strains, while playmaker Marco Reus is recovering from a groin problem. Haaland was in stunning form when league was suspended in mid-March with nine goals in eight Bundesliga appearances since joining from Salzburg.

Sancho also terrorised defences with 14 goals and 16 assists in 23 league games. At third-placed RB Leipzig, Germany striker Timo Werner is aiming to move closer to his goal target for season against Freiburg on Saturday. "t many players my have scored 20 goals in a season once and I've done it twice," said 24-year-old Werner who has netted 21 times this term. "I'd like to score 30 in a season."  Julian Nlsmann's Leipzig trail leaders Bayern by five points following draws against Leverkusen and Wolfsburg before matches were halted due to virus outbreak.

One to watch: Robert Lewandowski

league's top scorer is back from injury and looking to add to his 25 goals this season on Sunday against Union in Berlin. With nine games left, 31-year-old Poland international is set to beat his previous best haul of 30 league goals, achieved in both 2015/16 and 2016/17. It will also be worth watching Bayern's Canadian teen Alphonso Davies, 19, who has extended his contract until 2025 after several impressive displays at left-back. 

Im credits: AP