One of the most exciting matches of the Champions League group stage will be held on Wednesday night, when the German Borussia Dortmund will host the Spanish giants, Barcelona. The two teams are in the same place in the group with 12 points each, so this clash will be extremely important from the point of view of advancement and group leadership.
Borussia Dortmund: Home strength and attacking force
Dortmund have made a great start to their Champions League group stage, winning four of their five matches so far. In the previous round, they won 3-0 against Dinamo Zagreb, securing their place in the top eight. However, their Bundesliga form has dropped a bit, as they are currently only sixth in the league after draws against Bayern Munich and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
- Dortmund are excellent at home: they have won eight out of nine matches at the Westfalenstadion this year.
- The team's offensive game is outstanding: they have scored 16 goals in the five BL matches so far.
- However, they don't do well against Spanish teams, most recently suffering a 5-2 defeat against Real Madrid.
One of the team's key players, Karim Adeyemi, is struggling with an injury and his game is questionable. However, in the forward line they can still count on the creativity of Donyell Malen and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, while in the midfield Marcel Sabitzer and Felix Nmecha can provide stability.
Expected starting team (4-3-3):
Kobel - Ryerson, Can, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini - Sabitzer, Nmecha, Gross - Malen, Guirassy, Gittens
Barcelona: Hansi Flick's new challenge
Barcelona, under Hansi Flick, had a solid performance in the Champions League, where they won four matches in a row after losing in the first round. In the last round, they defeated the French Brest 3-0, securing their place at the top of the group. However, their form dropped in La Liga, the last time they played a 2-2 draw against Real Betis, so the lead in the championship race became tighter.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
- Barcelona's away form is outstanding: they have scored 37 goals in their 13 away matches so far.
- In addition to Robert Lewandowski, the young talents Lamine Yamal and Raphinha also excel in the attacking line.
- The defense is struggling with injuries, the absence of Andreas Christensen and Marc-André ter Stegen is a serious challenge.
Lewandowski, who recently scored his 100th CL goal, remains the jewel of the attack line, while in midfield Pedri and Frenkie de Jong are responsible for controlling the game.
Expected starting team (4-2-3-1):
Inaki Pena - Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde - Pedri, De Jong - Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha - Lewandowski
Balance against each other
The two teams have met four times so far, and Dortmund have never won. They last met in 2019, when Barcelona won 3-1. Dortmund must therefore fight not only for promotion, but also for prestige in this match.
Tippmix Tips and Betting Options
The match can be bet on the Tippmix and TippmixPro pages.
Forecast
Dortmund is particularly dangerous at home, but due to Barcelona's away performance, an even match is expected.
Summary
This match promises to be a real treat for football fans, where attacking play could come to the fore. For more in-depth analysis and winning betting tips, join our premium groups: Premium Tips.