The Champions League squads of the participating teams have been announced. Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Borussia Dortmund are representing Germany.
Another setback for Jonas Hofmann: the former national player is not part of the Champions League squad of runners-up Bayer Leverkusen.
After a frustrating season under coach Xabi Alonso, the 33-year-old had hoped for better times, but at least in the Champions League, this will not be the case for him.
By Wednesday evening, each club had to nominate a maximum of 25 players for the league phase. At Borussia Dortmund, Turkish international Salih Özcan is missing from the list, among others, but Patrick Drewes also failed to make the cut.
The goalkeeper was signed from VfL Bochum in the summer and was supposed to strengthen the team. He has been doing just that since then, but BVB coach Niko Kovac is relying on a different trio in the Champions League: Gregor Kobel, Silas Ostrzinski, and Alexander Meyer.
The BVB squad at a glance
Goal
Gregor Kobel, Silas Ostrzinski, Alexander Meyer
Defense
Yan Couto, Waldemar Anton, Nico Schlotterbeck, Ramy Bensebaini, Emre Can, Daniel Svensson, Niklas Süle, Julian Ryerson, Aarón Anselmino, Filippo Mane, Almugera Kabar
Midfield
Felix Nmecha, Julian Brandt, Pascal Gross, Carney Chukwuemeka, Marcel Sabitzer, Cole Campbell
Attack
Jobe Bellingham, Serhou Guirassy, Maximilian Beier, Fabio Silva, Karim Adeyemi
Some professionals still have hope
At Eintracht Frankfurt, center back Hrvoje Smolcic and former U21 national team player Jessic Ngankam, who is currently injured, have been left out.
Other missing names such as Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich) and Julien Duranville (Dortmund) can still hope for a nomination via the so-called “B list.” This list includes players born on or after January 1, 2003, who meet certain criteria as home-grown players.
Despite their injuries, Alphonso Davies (cruciate ligament rupture), Jamal Musiala (fractured fibula and dislocated ankle) and Hiroki Ito (metatarsal fracture) are also included in the Bayern squad. Some of the professionals will be out of action for many weeks. The Champions League group stage begins on September 16.