Borussia Dortmund starts the Champions League season against FC Copenhagen. In view of the upcoming opponents, a win is a must.
According to reports, Anthony Modeste will fulfill a big wish on Tuesday (September 6th, 2022). At the age of 34 he will play in the Champions League for the first time. With Borussia Dortmund the Frenchman will play against FC Copenhagen. “That was one of the reasons why Anthony chose us,” said BVB coach Edin Terzic the day before the match.
For debutant Modeste and his team, this start in the European premier class will already be a groundbreaking game. Because anything but a success against the Danes would be a big disappointment – and would probably jeopardize reaching the round of 16. After all, the Dortmund team will then have to compete with Manchester City and FC Sevilla against two opponents who are considered to be much stronger.
“We know that we’ll be under a lot of pressure with two away games after that,” emphasized BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl. If you want to make it out of the group, you have to win. Above all at home, against Copenhagen. That is Kehl’s clear message.
Terzic: “Will do everything to win”
BVB finally experienced how quickly such a competition can be over in the previous season. At that time it was already over in the group phase of the premier class. Dortmund were relegated to the Europa League and were eliminated early on. “It didn’t feel good. We definitely want to do better this time,” said Terzic. “We’ll do everything we can to win on Tuesday.”
At this season opener in the Champions League, the Dortmunders hope above all for a premiere off the pitch. For the first time, the south stand will be a stand-up stand, as in the Bundesliga. “We are very happy that the entire Yellow Wall is full, hopefully it will be a spectacle,” said captain Marco Reus. “Our opponents in Europe don’t know that yet.”
Long failure list
Dortmund’s injury list is less encouraging. Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens may need shoulder surgery, while Donyell Malen (muscle problems) and Karim Adeyemi (toe injury) are also doubtful. In any case, Mahmoud Dahoud, Sebastien Haller and Mateu Morey will still be missing for months. Raphael Guerreiro, on the other hand, has returned to training after an illness and will probably be able to play.
BVB cannot gradually feel its way into the competition this year, but must act at a high level from the start. “It’s almost a final. You have to win it,” says BVB advisor Matthias Sammer.
