16.07.2008

Borussia warm up against Baggies

Tomorrow sees a clash between two newly promoted sides when Borussia take on West Bromwich Albion at the Hubert Houben Stadium in Goch (kick-off: 1830 CET) in their fourth pre-season warm-up game.

The West Midlands outfit won the Football League Championship last season to seal promotion to the Premier League. "It's good to face such strong opposition at this stage of our pre-season preparations", said Jos Luhukay. "West Brom will be a very tough test."

In a change from the previous pre-season matches the Borussia boss will not field a completely new team in the second half. Instead the players are to be given at least an hour and, where possible, a full 90 minutes. Rob Friend is set to make his first pre-season appearance, albeit just for half an hour. Some doubt remains over Soumaila Coulibaly, who sustained a minor muscle strain while playing for Mali, and Johannes van den Bergh, who is ill, though everyone else is on board.

Despite an intensive training programme Borussia will be looking to put in a good performance against the 1920 English champions, who are currently at training camp in Holland. And the Baggies will pose a genuine challenge. As well as returning to the top flight of English football, Tony Mowbray's men reached the semi-final of the FA Cup last season, where they lost narrowly to Portsmouth. West Brom's best-known players are Scotland international Craig Beattie, left-sided midfielder Chris Brunt and goalkeeper Dean Kiely. The Premier League new boys face a tough start to the season with a trip to Arsenal on 16 August.

Seats for tomorrow's friendly cost 15 euros, standing tickets 10 euros (concessions: 7.50 euros).

Directions: Leave the A 57 autobahn at junction 3 (Goch/Kalkar). Get in the right-hand lane (SP: Goch) and continue along the B67 (Kevelaerer Straße). At the first set of traffic lights turn left, continue over a bridge and turn left again (Weezer Straße). Continue along this road for about 600 metres before turning right onto Hubert-Houben-Straße (Hubert-Houben-Stadion).