Dortmund and Chelsea will square off for the first time at the Westfalenstadion in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 matchup.
The Blues defeated AC Milan, Red Bull Salzburg, and Dinamo Zagreb to win Group E, while BVB advanced to the knockout rounds after placing second in Group G behind Manchester City.
Match Preview
Borussia Dortmund defeated Werder Bremen 2-0 in the Bundesliga on Saturday to extend their winning streak since the World Cup break to six games overall.
The Blues have drawn their previous three Premier League games, including a 1-1 draw away at West Ham United on Saturday. They have only won one of their eight games since the new year.
Emerson Palmieri, a former Chelsea player, scored to offset a goal from January loanee Joao Felix. Then, after Tomas Soucek, a midfielder for the Hammers, had a goal at the other end disallowed for offside in the buildup, the visitors were denied a late penalty when VAR controversially waved away a handball call from him.
Chelsea presently sits 10th in the Premier League standings, 10 points behind Newcastle United in fourth place, and their chances of finishing in the top four are fading.
If the West Londoners want to participate in Europe’s premier club competition again the following season, they might have to go all the way in the Champions League.
The 2011–12 and 2020–21 champions had a tough start to their group-stage campaign earlier this season, and Thomas Tuchel’s tenure as manager was ended by a shocking 1-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb.
The Blues recovered under Potter’s guidance, though, and won their final four matches to take first place in Group E ahead of AC Milan, who finished in second.
Since winning 2-1 away at Red Bull Salzburg on October 25, Chelsea has gone nine games without a victory on the road in all competitions. They face Dortmund on Wednesday, and only three of their previous 11 away games against German opposition have ended in victories for Chelsea.
Dortmund V Chelsea Team News
Youssoufa Moukoko, a highly touted attacker for Borussia Dortmund, had to leave the game against Bremen due to ankle ligament damage and now faces a six-week absence. Sebastian Haller or Anthony Modeste will likely take over as the team’s front-runner as a result.
To compete with January acquisition Julian Ryerson for a spot at right-back, Thomas Meunier has recovered from a muscle injury. Marius Wolf (shoulder), Abdoulaye Kamara (knee), and Mateu Morey (fitness) are also sidelined due to injuries.
In-demand teenager Jude Bellingham, who has scored four goals in five Champions League games this season, is expected to show off his skills in center-midfield. Attacker Karim Adeyemi is also available for selection after serving a domestic suspension in the win against Bremen.
N’Golo Kante (hamstring), Christian Pulisic (both knee), Armando Broja (both knee), and Edouard Mendy (finger) are still in need of medical attention for Chelsea, while Aubameyang, Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke, David Datro Fofana, and Andrey Santos are all ineligible due to missing out on Potter’s Champions League squad.
Raheem Sterling (knee), Wesley Fofana (knee), Mateo Kovacic (calf), Denis Zakaria (thigh), Kalidou Koulibaly (sickness), and Denis Zakaria are all questionable and will be evaluated before the trip to Germany.
With English duo Reece James and Ben Chilwell expected to start as either full-backs or wing-backs, Koulibaly will likely partner with Thiago Silva at center back, whether it be in a back three or four-man defense, if he is deemed fit to play.
Madueke could be replaced on the right wing by Mason Mount or Hakim Ziyech, while Felix is anticipated to keep his spot as the number 10 behind German international Kai Havertz and Mykhaylo Mudryk, who scored five goals in six Champions League games for Shakhtar Donetsk earlier this season, is expected to stay on the left wing.
Probable Lineup
Borussia Dortmund Probable lineup:
Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Guerreiro; Bellingham, Can; Adeyemi, Reus, Brandt; Haller
Chelsea Probable lineup:
Arrizabalaga; James, Thiago Silva, Koulibaly, Chilwell; Loftus-Cheek, Fernandez; Mount, Felix, Mudryk; Havertz
Dortmund V Chelsea Prediction
Potter will need his players to start playing together if Chelsea is to beat a high-flying Dortmund team while in Germany. Chelsea hasn’t been at its best for a while.
Even without Moukoko, BVB still has enough quality in the final third to pose a threat to Chelsea, and we expect the home team to win the first leg by the odd goal in three.
Here at Futballnews, we are going with Dortmund winning 2-1 against Chelsea. What is your prediction?
