FC Barcelona will be heading to the Signal Iduna Park to face a young and enthusiastic Borussia Dortmund, as both sides look to register all three points in Pool F, which also has Inter Milan and Slavia Prague in it.
Match Details:
Date- September 18, 2019
Time of-Kick-Off- 12:30 AM (IST)
Venue- Signal Iduna Park
Borussia Dortmund Team News:
Prior to the international break, the German club has faced a 3-1 defeat to Union Berlin, but they bounced back and got three important points in there next league game versus Bayern Leverkusen by thumping them 4-0.
Marco Reus got on the scoresheet twice, while Paco Alcacer and Raphael Gurrero also chipped in with a goal each.
Dortmund’s win comprehensive win came at an important time as they look to lock horns against Europian giants FC Barcelona in a group which has also got the likes of a rejuvenated Inter Milan under the managerial leadership of Antonio Conte.
Dortmund’s best season in the prestigious competition was in the year 1997 when they lifted the Champions League Trophy, followed by a second-place finish to Bayern Munich in 2013 while Jurgen Klopp was still in charge.
Talking about injury concerns, Axel Witsel recently came off from the bench against Leverkusen and is expected to play a part on Tuesday night.
Centre-half Manuel Aknji also made a come back against Leverkusen and can make it to the teamsheet against Barcelona.
Barcelona Team News:
Barcelona, just like Dortmund are fresh from a 5-2 win against Valencia over the weekend. The reigning champions of Spain are currently on the h spot in their respective league but will surely and certainly move up the ladder as Lionel Messi gets regular game time.
In Messi’s absence, Antoine Griezmann did take up the responsibility on a few occasions, but it was the 16-year-old Anssumane Fati who stole the show against Valencia as he scored his second league goal.
However, Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde has confirmed that Leo Messi is up and running and will have a part to play in the first game of the Champions League.
Luis Suarez made a return to the team sheet after sustaining an injury in the first game against Athletic Bilbao and went on to score a brace versus Valencia.
Carlos Perez can be played in place of the teenage sensation Faiti in the early hours before being called upon from the bench.
Predicted Lineup :
Borussia Dortmund- Burki; Hakimi, Akanji, Hummels, Gurreiro, Delaney, Witsel, Brandt, Reus, Sancho, Alcacer
FC Barcelona- Ter Stegan; Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba, De Jong, Busquets, Roberto, Griezmann, L Suarez, Messi
Key Points:
Borussia Dortmund has faced 15 home games against Spanish opposition, out of which they’ve lost just three.
However, this will be the first time Dortmund and Barcelona will be facing off in the Champions League. The two clubs had earlier locked horns in the UEFA Super Cup in 1998 in which Barcelona won the tie 3-1 on aggregate.
Barcelona has won just two of their last seven games against a German club in the UEFA Champions League.
Borussia Dortmund will be counting on the pace of their forwards, and more particularly Jadon Sancho who had a productive international break and has already registered four assists along with scoring two goals in his four appearances for Dortmund.
Centre Forward Paco Alcacer is also firing in goals for the club. Alcacer has five goals and an assist in four games for BVB.
For FC Barcelona, Frankie De Jong might have a thing or two to prove to his dream club as he braces himself to start in his first-ever champions league game for Barcelona. De Jong scored a goal in the game against Valencia and will be high on confidence. The Dutch sensation also has 95% pass succession ratio, making him the most accurate passer in his team so far.
Griezmann having recorded historic Champions League nights might once again turn on the music by getting on the scoresheet.
Prediction:
With Leo Messi back in contention, one can’t brush aside Barcelona’s chances of coming back home with a point or more. Nevertheless, the Signal Iduna Park is a fortress for Borussia Dortmund, and it’s quite evident that Dortmund admires clashing against Spanish clubs on the big stage.
With Champions League nights returning at Dortmund’s home ground, it won’t be hard to expect a full house which would definitely pump the home team. A draw between the two great clubs seems like the ideal result as of now.
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