Borussia Dortmund have been told to show "fight and emotion" as they take on arch-rivals Schalke in Saturday's derby and look to challenge RB Leipzig at the top of the Bundesliga.
Sporting director Michael Zorc was fuming as Dortmund crashed to a 3-1 defeat to Lazio in Rome on Tuesday in their opening Champions League game.
Covid-19 has cast a shadow over the Bundesliga this week with Werder Bremen, who host Hoffenheim Sunday, cancelling training Thursday after an unnamed player tested positive.
Second-place Bayern Munich will face Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday without Germany winger Serge Gnabry who sat out Wednesday's 4-0 thumping of Atletico Madrid after a positive test for the virus.
As Germany recorded record high figures of the coronavirus on Thursday, most league games will be played behind closed doors.
Just 300 home fans will be allowed to watch in Dortmund and Zorc urged his side not to keep their distance when defending against second-from-bottom Schalke.
"We observed the distancing rules when defending" against Lazio, "in exemplary fashion. We want to see a reaction," said Zorc drily ahead of Saturday's derby. He also wants to see "fight and emotion" from the home side.
Dortmund are third in the table, level with defending champions Bayern on nine points and just one behind leaders Leipzig.
Erling Braut Haaland, who scored Dortmund's consolation goal in Rome, also netted as Schalke crashed to a 4-0 thrashing last May on their previous visit to Dortmund.
Gelsenkirchen-based Schalke are winless in their last 20 Bundesliga games and would love nothing more than to break their run at neighbours Dortmund.
Schalke assistant manager Naldo knows all about getting a result at Signal Iduna Park.
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Gallery: Dortmund 4 Schalke 0
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Burussia Dortmund forward Erling Braut Haaland celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Schalke at Signal Iduna Park on May 16. AFP -
Dortmund's Erling Braut Haaland scores the opening goal against Schalke. AFP -
Dortmund's Thorgan Hazard, left, celebrates with Julian Brandt after scoring his side's third goal. AFP -
Dortmund's Thomas Delaney challenges Suat Serdar of Schalke. Getty -
Dortmund's Erling Haaland, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal. AP -
Schalke manager David Wagner. Reuters -
A TV cameraman wears a face mask during the match between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke. AP -
Dortmund's Raphael Guerreiro scores his side's second goal. Getty -
Dortmund's Thorgan Hazard scores their third goal. Reuters -
Fortuna Dusseldorf defender Matthias Zimmermann is tackled by Paderborn's Sebastian Vasiliadis. The match finished 0-0. AFP -
Balls are disinfected at the Dusseldorf-Paderborn game. Reuters -
Fortuna Dusseldorf's players sit on the bench during the Bundesliga match at home to Paderborn. AFP -
Hoffenheim's forward Ihlas Bebou, centre, misses a chance against Hertha Berlin in Sinsheim on Saturday. Hertha Berlin won the match 3-0. AP -
Hertha Berlin forward Matheus Cunha celebrates after scoring their third goal against Hoffenheim. AFP -
Freiburg's Manuel Gulde celebrates with Christian Gunte after scoring against RB Leipzig on Saturday. The match finished 1-1. Reuters -
RB Leipzig's Spanish defender Angelino prepares to take a corner during their home match against Freiburg on Saturday. AFP -
Leipzig's Yussuf Poulsen, left, and Nicolas Hoefler of Freiburg. AFP -
Wolfsburg defender John Brooks heads into his own net against Augsburg. The match finished 2-1 to Wolfsburg. AFP -
Wolfsburg's Daniel Ginczek, left, celebrates his late winner against Augsburg. AP -
Augsburg's Tin Jedvaj receives treatment during match. Getty
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The Brazilian's last-gasp header in 2017 capped a stunning fight-back from four goals down as Schalke sealed a 4-4 draw away from home.
"Schalke will have a lot of passion, discipline and commitment – they will want to ruin our game," warned Zorc.
Tensions are running extra high between the clubs after a racist incident last weekend.
Dortmund prodigy Youssoufa Moukoko, 15, received alleged death threats and racist abuse from Schalke fans after scoring a hat-trick in Sunday's 3-2 win in an Under-19 derby in Gelsenkirchen. Schalke have apologised and are investigating the allegations.
Dortmund are without centre-back Manuel Akanji, who is recovering from the coronavirus, and winger Thorgan Hazard who has a leg knock.
Midfield enforcer Emre Can is available after missing the Lazio defeat with suspension.
Table-topping Leipzig host Hertha Berlin on Saturday with Angelino out to add to his tally of four goals this season.
A left-back by trade, the Spaniard has scored in his last three games for league leaders RB Leipzig since moving up to the left wing.
He bagged both superb goals in Tuesday's 2-0 win over Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League.
The 23-year-old Manchester City loanee is supplying the goals in the absence of Timo Werner, who has joined Chelsea, and has been described as "dangerous" in front of goal by Leipzig sporting director Markus Krosche.
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Gallery: Bayern 4 Atletico Madrid 0
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Kingsley Coman celebrates his second goal against during his team's 4-0 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid at Allianz Arena on Wednesday, October 21. EPA -
Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coman opens the scoring. PA -
Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski. EPA -
Midfielder Leon Goretzka (C) celebrates scoring the second goal. AFP -
Bayern Munich's Corentin Tolisso, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's third goal. AP -
Hans-Dieter Flick, coach of Bayern, talks to Corentin Tolisso. Getty -
Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coman, centre, is congratulated by teammates after scoring his team's fourth goal. AP
