Chelsea-Borussia Dortmund is a Champions League round of 16 return match and is played on Tuesday at 9pm: TV, formations, predictions.
Avoiding catastrophe. Yes, because in the event of elimination from the Champions League even that last bolt that still holds Graham Potter’s bench in place could blow up. The former Brighton coach, who took over from Thomas Tuchel last September, brought his Chelsea side back to winning ways last Saturday after nearly a month and a half, scoring a narrow victory over a dangerous Leeds side. But it may not be enough to avoid exoneration.
The real test of whether the crisis is behind us is obviously the cup with the big ears. To go out already in the round of 16, despite a favourable draw on paper – in reality this is not the case, as Borussia Dortmund have started the new year with a different flair than last autumn – would be a disaster. Especially after the two pharaonic buying campaigns in which the club’s new owner Todd Boehly has shelled out around EUR 500 million. The Champions League, then, is now the only realistic goal for the Londoners, who are tenth in the Premier League table and seemingly out of everything. It is unlikely, not to say impossible, that they will manage to come back and finish in the top four. Despite the victory over Leeds – which ended a six-game fast – Chelsea are -11 from fourth place. Potter remains on the gridiron and failure to qualify would make his position even more precarious.
Borussia Dortmund and that England taboo
Chelsea lost the first leg 1-0, the decisive goal coming from former Salzburg youngster Karim Adeyemi, who was excellent in slaloming over 50 metres between the Blues’ players with almost 100-metre timing. Potter’s team then tried to straighten out the situation but could not break through the yellow and red wall, with Reus and his team-mates ready to strike on the restart.
Londoners are therefore obliged to win by at least two goals to pass the round: with any draw they would be eliminated. The problem is that they will be facing one of the most in-form teams in Europe. Borussia Dortmund has not lost a game since they started playing in Germany again. In fact, they have won them all. Including last Friday’s direct clash with Leipzig (2-1), which allowed them to pull away from a rival in the standings and remain level with Bayern Munich in first place. Edin Terzic’s men are living a magnificent moment, they are in confidence and in the return match at Stamford Bridge they will not have the hassle of having to score at all costs. The statistics seem to be on their side: in the Champions League elimination phase they have passed the round five times out of six when winning the first leg. All that remains now is to try to break the England taboo: Borussia have always been defeated in their last five away matches against English teams.
Chelsea-Borussia Dortmund: latest line-up news
Chelsea’s infirmary shows no sign of emptying. Broja, Thiago Silva, Mendy and Mount will be absent against Borussia Dortmund, while Kanté, Azpilicueta and Pulisic remain in doubt. Potter is expected to re-propose the 3-4-3, with Chalobah being preferred in the three-man defence to Badiashile, one of the many January market signings.
In front, the coach will continue not to deploy a true front line: in addition to Mudryk, Joao Felix and Havertz will hold up the attack. In the middle there will be space for Kovacic and Enzo Fernandez. Borussia Dortmund will be without the hero of the first leg, Adeyemi, who was stopped by a thigh problem. The other sure absentees are Moukoko, Kamara, Morey and Ryerson. Terzic is anxious about the condition of goalkeeper Kobel, who came off at the end of the first half in the match against Leipzig, and Malen, another who could miss the trip to Stamford Bridge. Bellingham, the object of desire of many Premier League teams, will be deployed in a more advanced position, between Brandt and Reus and behind striker Haller.
The Prediction
Eight shots on goal without ever finding the way to goal. That was the summary of Chelsea’s performance in the first leg, which speaks volumes about the Blues’ current offensive drought. In front of their home crowd, the Blues will try their best to attempt a comeback, but it might not be enough against a Borussia Dortmund side that only knows how to win in 2023. It is likely to be a more lively game than in the first leg, with Chelsea trying to be more concrete in front of goal, but at the same time exposing themselves to Borussia’s deadly counter-attacks. Both are likely to score. Watch out for the number of yellow cards.
Chelsea v Borussia Dortmund likely line-up
- CHELSEA (3-4-3): Kepa; Chalobah, Koulibaly, Fofana; James, Kovaćič, Enzo Fernández, Chilwell; Mudryk, João Félix, Havertz.
- BORUSSIA DORTMUND (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Wolf, Süle, Schlotterbeck, Guerreiro; Emre Can, Salih Özcan; Brandt, Bellingham, Reus; Haller.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
