The Champions League 2nd leg is set to get underway this week, as Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund look to overturn their 1:0 deficit against Benfica. The Black and Yellows have been faultless at the Signal Iduna Park this season and a 2:0 win will see them qualify for the Quarter Finals. However, the chances aren’t that big either for Thomas Tuchel’s men, as only 30% teams that have lost 1:0 away in the first leg, have gone on to qualify for the next round.
Dortmund have been in stupendous form in recent games, though. Following the loss against Benfica in the first leg, Tuchel’s side have registered three back to back wins by a three-goal margin, scoring 12 in the process and also keeping two clean sheets. The run helped them climb to the third spot in the Bundesliga table and trail second-placed Leipzig by just six points.
Dortmund also hold a good record against Portuguese teams, as they have won their last four home games against teams from Portugal, scoring 11 goals and conceding only two in the process. But they have lost seven of their last nine games in the Champions League knockout stages
Ousmane Dembele and Raphael Guerreiro have been the best performers for Dortmund in the past few games. The French winger, in particular, has been unplayable at times. The new signing, who always wanted to don the jersey of Benfica, looks to be in groove ahead of this week’s much-awaited clash.
Meanwhile, Benfica have lost all nine of their away games against German clubs in the European Cup/Champions League, scoring four goals and conceding 26. In the first leg against Dortmund, they scored with their only shot on target.
Team News
Marco Reus has been ruled out with a torn muscle fibre. His teammate Mario Gotze is also out for an indefinite time after he was caught with an illness which is identified as Myopathy and that might potentially damage his career. Midfielders Sebastian Rode and Sven Bender stand among the other absentees for Dortmund.
As for Benfica, coach Rui Vitoria will miss the services of key midfielder Ljubomir Fejsa, the Serbian will be out due to an ankle problem. Apart from that, defender Lisandro Lopez will miss the clash due to a wound.
Predicted Lineups
Borussia Dortmund: (3-1-5-1) Roman Burki; Lukasz Piszczek, Sokratis, Marc Bartra; Julian Weigl; Erik Durm, Gonzalo Castro, Ousmane Dembele, Raphael Guerreiro, Andre Schurrle; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
SL Benfica: (4-4-2 formation) Ederson Moraes; Nelson Semedo, Luisao, Victor Lindelof, Eliseu; Eduardo Salvio, Pizzi, Andreas Samaris, Rafa Silva; Jonas, Konstantinos Mitroglou
Prediction: Dortmund 2:0 Benfica
