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Borussia Dortmund v CHELSEA: Preview

Date: Wednesday 15th February 2023

Venue: Signal Iduna Park

Kick-off: 20:00 GMT

Its back to the Champions League tonight for the first leg of our last-16 tie against Borussia Dortmund at Westfalenstadion.

Borussia Dortmund have won their last six games, including a 2-0 Bundesliga victory away against Werder Bremen on Saturday. Dortmund sit third in the Bundesliga and they progressed to the knockout rounds as runners-up to Manchester City.

Chelsea, who won group E to progress, have just one win in seven league outings and come into tonight’s game off the back of yet another frustrating draw, this time against West Ham at the weekend.

Dortmund have failed to win any of their last 10 games against English sides in European competition including eight defeats but they’ve lost only four of their last 21 games at Westfalenstadion in the Champions League, so we might find it a struggle to take anything away from their fortress tonight, particularly given our form away from home this season.

MANAGER’S VIEWS

Going into today’s game, Borussia Dortmund manager, Edin Terzic, says In this competition, what has happened in the league in recent weeks does not count. It’s back to square one. We want to test ourselves at a high level across the two games. We want to prepare for that in the best possible way and put in a really good performance.

It’s not easy to analyse the whole thing. [Chelsea] have given up players and brought in key players. You don’t know exactly with which line-up they will perform here.  As always, we will focus on ourselves. We will prepare for everything.”

Chelsea manager Graham Potter, meanwhile, says “It’s the knockout stage of the #UCL. The absolute pinnacle. A great test against a fantastic club. 80,000 fans here. A wonderful occasion. We are looking forward to it and understand the challenge. Really excited for it.

My first impressions of [Terzic] were incredibly positive. Really humble guy, very intelligent, articulate, open minded, creative. Everything you want for a coach, he has those attributes.  Accumulated experience. A nice mix. You can see the quality of work he’s done recently, a fantastic run. Organised, attack well and defend well. Good individuals. I’m pleased for him.  I want to make it difficult for him in the next couple of games then I’ll wish him well!”

SQUAD NEWS

For Borussia Dortmund, Youssoufa Moukoko (ankle), Marius Wolf (shoulder), Abdoulaye Kamar (knee) and Mateu Morey (fitness) are all out. Thomas Meunier is available after injury and Karim Adeyemi is available after suspension.

For Chelsea, N’Golo Kante (hamstring), Edouard Mendy (finger), Christian Pulisic and Armando Broja (both knee) all remain out. Raheem Sterling (knee), Wesley Fofana (knee), Denis Zakaria (thigh), Mateo Kovacic (calf)  and Kalidou Koulibaly (illness) are all doubts.

TEAMS

BORUSSIA DORTMUND (Possible line-up): Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Guerreiro; Bellingham, Can; Adeyemi, Reus, Brandt; Haller

CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Arrizabalaga; James, Thiago Silva, Koulibaly, Chilwell; Loftus-Cheek, Fernandez; Mount, Felix, Mudryk; Havertz

FORM (CL)

BORUSSIA DORTMUND: WLWDDD

CHELSEA: LDWWWW

OTHER STUFF

  • This is the first meeting between Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea in European competition.
  • Chelsea have only won three of their 11 previous away games against German sides.
  • Borussia Dortmund have won their last six games.
  • Chelsea have won just one win of their last seven league games.
  • Graham Potter is unbeaten in charge of Chelsea in the Champions League (W4 D1), winning each of his past four games.

PREDICTION

Sportsmole: Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Chelsea

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