Hoffenheim Dortmund XIs: Sabitzer benched, Mané starts

Borussia Dortmund have named their Hoffenheim Dortmund lineup for Bundesliga Matchday 2, with Marcel Sabitzer on the bench and wonderkid Filippo Mané starting. The clash at PreZero Arena kicks off at 9:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, September 5, as Niko Kovac’s side chase a second league win.

Key Takeaways

• Marcel Sabitzer is on the bench for Dortmund’s Matchday 2 trip to Hoffenheim.
• Filippo Mané starts for Borussia Dortmund in the Hoffenheim Dortmund XI.
• Dortmund sit fifth on three points after beating Hamburger SV 2-0; Hoffenheim are 13th with zero after losing to Cologne.
• Kickoff is 9:30 a.m. ET at PreZero Arena; U.S. viewers can stream on ESPN+.
• Niko Kovac says Ethan Nwaneri is fit and could debut, while Nico Schlotterbeck is still not match-ready.

According to Yahoo Sports, the confirmed teamsheets for the Hoffenheim Dortmund fixture put Sabitzer among the substitutes and handed a start to Mané. Dortmund arrive after a winning start under Kovac, while Hoffenheim are looking to bounce back from defeat.

Who starts in the Hoffenheim Dortmund XI?

The headline selection news is clear: Sabitzer does not start, and Mané does. Yahoo Sports flagged Sabitzer’s place on the bench and the wonderkid’s inclusion in the first XI for Matchday 2.

That choice lands early in a campaign where Kovac’s side already have momentum. Dortmund opened the Bundesliga with a 2-0 win over Hamburger SV and then thrashed HEBC 5-0 in the DFB-Pokal, per BVB Buzz coverage of the manager’s pre-match comments.

What injury news did Niko Kovac reveal?

Kovac offered a detailed update before the Rhine-Neckar-Arena trip. Nico Schlotterbeck, recovering from an ankle injury sustained at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, is back doing pitch exercises alone and without opposition. The aim is to reintegrate him carefully, with a hope he can return to training in the next week or two—not for this match.

Ramy Bensebaini, dealing with a rib issue, trained with the first team for the first time in a lighter session; Kovac said progress is being monitored. Youngsters Enzo Duarte and Mussa Kaba also trained lightly but are “not quite ready” as alternatives yet.

Deadline-day loanee Ethan Nwaneri is a brighter note. Kovac called him “a player who is fit” who “could play straight away,” raising the prospect of a Dortmund debut against Hoffenheim. The Athletic’s injury notes also list Ioannis Konstantelias and Samuele Inacio as out for Dortmund, with no Hoffenheim absences listed there.

When and how can U.S. fans watch Hoffenheim vs Dortmund?

The Bundesliga meeting is scheduled for Saturday, September 5, at PreZero Arena, with a 9:30 a.m. ET start. The Athletic reports U.S. streaming on ESPN+ (including via Fubo sign-in on ESPN), plus TV options on Universo, USA Network, and Peacock Premium.

Standings heading into the game underscore the stakes: Dortmund are fifth with three points; Hoffenheim sit 13th with none. For more celebrity and breaking sports buzz, follow BlasterPost Celebrity Breaking News.

As the teamsheets drop and Kovac’s fitness calls filter through, the Hoffenheim Dortmund story centers on Sabitzer’s bench role, Mané’s start, and whether Nwaneri features from the off or the bench.