In the Champions League, Borussia Dortmund hosts Manchester City and RB Leipzig Real Madrid. It’s about getting into the round of 16 – and about the status of the Bundesliga.
Dortmund’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl obviously liked the 5-0 win against VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga, and he gave a lot of praise afterwards. Kehl said of Jude Bellingham, 19, and already a midfield boss: “For us he was again the one who steers the game in the right direction. So he is incredibly valuable for the team.”
Not only Kehl is now hoping that this game has initiated a turnaround at BVB, who had previously gone three times without a win in the Bundesliga. It would come at the right moment, just before the important Champions League home game against Manchester City on Tuesday evening (October 25th, 2022).
Dortmund arithmetic games
It is quite possible that Dortmund (7 points) will already be confirmed as a round of 16 participant before kick-off, for this to happen in the second game of Group G, FC Sevilla and FC Copenhagen (both 2 points) would have to draw. If this scenario does not occur, BVB could secure progress with a draw or a win against City (10 points), who have already qualified.
| team | Points | Gates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | 10 | 11:1 | |
| Borussia Dortmund | 7 | 9:4 | |
| FC Seville | 2 | 2:9 | |
| FC Copenhagen | 2 | 0:8 |
But there is also a scenario that they would like to do without in Dortmund. If BVB lost when they met Erling Haaland and Copenhagen won, there would be a final on the last day of the game in the Danish capital.
The Bundesliga didn’t do well last season
The game against the “Citizens” is therefore a really important one, for BVB of course, but not only for him. Should Dortmund assert themselves against Manchester, that would speak for the trend reversal, which not only sports director Kehl wants. But it could also be used to tell something about the state of German football.
The performance in the Champions League is often used as a kind of description of the state of German football. Last season the conclusion after the end of the preliminary round was not positive. Borussia Dortmund, for example, only finished third in a group with Ajax Amsterdam, Sporting Lisbon and Besiktas, it was a disappointment.
And otherwise it was not a good Champions League season for German football. Only FC Bayern survived the preliminary round, RB Leipzig finished third and was eliminated. VfL Wolfsburg was even last in its group.
Frankfurt and Leverkusen can still hope
This season things are looking a little better for the participants from the Bundesliga, also because five teams are competing after Eintracht Frankfurt’s Europa League victory. Although Frankfurt is last in Group D, they can still reach the round of 16. That also applies to Leverkusen. Bayern are already further, and BVB and RB Leipzig can hope.
They are now also calculating in Leipzig
Leipzig could reach the round of 16 as early as Tuesday evening, but it won’t be easy. RB (6 points) should win against Real Madrid, already qualified for the next round, and Shakhtar Donetsk (5 points) should lose against Celtic Glasgow (1 point). Any other constellation would mean that Leipzig had to tremble for progress on the last day of the game. Then RB takes on Donetsk away.
| team | Points | Gates |
|---|---|---|
| real Madrid | 10 | 8:2 |
| RB Leipzig | 6 | 6:7 |
| Shakhtar Donetsk | 5 | 7:5 |
| Celtic Glasgow | 1 | 2:9 |
The first leg against Real Madrid was Marco Rose’s second competitive game as Leipzig coach, his team lost 2-0 and still played well.
Madrid will be without Karim Benzema, Luka Modric and Fede Valverde in the second leg, but Rose doesn’t see an advantage in that alone. He says: “There’s still one or the other. We’re meeting the best squad in the world.”
Leipzig coach Marco Rose
Werner is fit again
That’s why Rose has to face the reunion with the “Royal”. “a lot of courage” demanded by his team, in defense, but also in offense. Christopher Nkunku’s ability would be useful when playing with the ball, he is Leipzig’s best.
A week ago, Nkunku had an operation on his right wrist, at the weekend against FC Augsburg he was a joker again and scored straight away. He could return to the starting XI against Madrid. Timo Werner is not an option for them yet, but he will at least be in the squad. Werner has recovered from a flu infection.