After last year’s exit in the group phase, Borussia Dortmund can complete the round of 16 of the Champions League this year on Tuesday (October 11th, 2022).
The emotional last-minute drama in the Bundesliga summit against FC Bayern (2-2) finally turned the mood at Borussia Dortmund into a positive one. In mid-September, after three defeats from four competitive games, not everything looked so rosy.
Own victory and no sensation in Copenhagen
But that was followed by a 4-1 win at FC Sevilla and this goal by Anthony Modeste to make it 2-2 against Bayern – and now Edin Terzic’s team can refine this small series of successes: With another win over Sevilla on Tuesday (October 11th, 2022 ) you would still be in the round of 16 despite two games left if Copenhagen didn’t win against Manchester City.
“We can tie that thing down, it would do us a huge favor”commented midfielder Julian Brandt, hoping for less pressure in the two remaining preliminary round games. “We’ve got a good starting position. But that doesn’t count if we don’t do better.”added Terzic.
A year after the knockout in the group phase of the premier class, in which they actually went as group favorites against Besiktas Istanbul, Sporting Lisbon and Ajax Amsterdam, Borussia has a great opportunity to improve its scratched international image again.
Kobel will probably be there again, but not Reus
Contrary to what was hoped, Borussia cannot count on captain Marco Reus in the second duel with Sevilla either. After a good three-week break due to an ankle ligament injury, the 33-year-old international is probably not an option yet.
“An infection set him back in his rehabilitation. I’m rather pessimistic that it will be enough”, said Terzic. On the other hand, regular keeper Gregor Kobel should be guarding the goal for the first time since the beginning of September. In addition, Thomas Meunier, who was released against Munich for personal reasons, is about to return to the starting XI.
Sampaoli new coach at Sevilla
It is not to be expected that it will be as easy for BVB in the second duel within a week as in the first leg. After all, Jorge Sampaoli has a new coach on the bench for the Andalusians, who have slipped to 18th place in the domestic league.
So far, Sampaoli, successor to Julen Lopetegui, who was released after the home defeat against Dortmund, has at least achieved a small success: last weekend at home against Bilbao, the six-time UEFA Cup/Europa League winner struggled, especially in the second half, but at least got a 1:1 against the third in the table.