Borussia Dortmund-Chelsea is a Champions League round of 16 first leg match to be played on Wednesday at 9pm: TV, line-ups, predictions.
The anonymous tenth place in the Premier League clashes – and it couldn’t be otherwise – with Chelsea’s last two campaigns, which to call pharaonic is nothing more than an understatement. The Blues’ new owner, Todd Boehly, has spent over €300 million in January alone to renew and strengthen the squad, yet total confusion seems to reign at Stamford Bridge, if only in terms of planning.
Thomas Tuchel was sacked in September, perhaps a little hastily, and his replacement, Graham Potter, after a decent start, is disappointing, failing to find the antidote to heal Chelsea and bring them back into the league table more in keeping with the club’s recent history. The former Brighton man is trying his best, but the efforts seem totally insufficient. In February, the Londoners find themselves far from fourth place – they are -10 behind Newcastle – and risk not playing in the Champions League next year. On the last day of the championship they did not go beyond a draw – the third in a row – with West Ham: Joao Felix was answered by Emerson Palmieri. In spite of the numerous offensive players arrived from the market (one of them, the Ukrainian jewel Mudryk), Chelsea is coming to terms with an attack that continues to score in droves. And perhaps in need of an easy-goal first striker, rather than the usual outfielders.
Flipped balance of power
The Champions League, in the face of a championship that now seems compromised, becomes the goal not to be missed at this point. Potter, already harshly criticised in the last period, knows he is gambling his bench. And he is aware that an early elimination could also mean exoneration.
Adeyemi
And if last November, when the draw was made, Borussia Dortmund were not particularly intimidating, things have now changed. The Gialloneri are one of those teams to whom the World Cup break has done more than good. Since the resumption of play in Germany, Reus and his teammates have collected only victories: five in a row in the Bundesliga and one in the national cup. Edin Terzic is reaping the rewards of his work in the autumn and his young Borussia team is now on a roll, back in the title fight. The hallmark of this winning streak is the goals: since January, he has never scored less than two, regaining the prolific play of the Haaland days. A curiosity: Borussia Dortmund have never faced Chelsea in the past. On the other hand, the Germans have never won in their last 10 confrontations with English teams.
Borussia Dortmund-Chelsea: latest line-up news
It will be up to Haller, back on a high after surgery on a testicular tumour, to lead the Giallonero attack. Teenager Moukoko, out for around two months with a ligament problem in his right ankle, will be absent. On the other hand, Bellingham and Adeyemi, the other two young draggers of Terzic’s team to the tune of goals and plays, will not be missing. And a lot of substance, in the case of the Englishman.
Although the infirmary is far from empty, Potter is spoilt for choice. Certainly absent are Kanté, Pulisic, Broja and Mendy, while Kovacic, Zakaria, Sterling and Fofana remain in doubt. In defence Koulibaly should return, while in attack Joao Felix, Mount and Mudryk will support Havertz, still in false nueve version.
The Prediction
Right now there is no doubt that Borussia Dortmund are better off, who are also slight favourites according to the bookmakers. But there is a catch. So far the yellow-and-whites have not faced opponents of Chelsea’s calibre. And being a very young team, they might ‘suffer’ this kind of stage. Beware, therefore, of leaving the Blues for dead. We foresee a very balanced match, which will reserve at least a couple of total goals.
Borussia Dortmund-Chelsea likely line-ups
- BORUSSIA DORTMUND (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Süle, Schlotterbeck, Guerreiro; Ozcan, Bellingham; Adeyemi, Reus, Brandt; Haller.
- CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Arrizabalaga; James, Thiago Silva, Chalobah, Cucurella; Enzo Fernández, Kovačić; João Félix, Mount, Mudryk; Havertz.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
