Borussia Dortmund will have to overcome an imposing aggregate deficit ahead of the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal against Monaco. Their first match will be against FC Barcelona on Tuesday, July 11 at BVB Stadium. On paper, Dortmund has known much better days against Barcelona, with the club never having won a single match against the Spanish giants. This active streak is currently the fifth longest winless run against one opponent in the club’s all-time history.
Dortmund have an, admittedly, incredible challenge in front of them as they come into the fixture. They now face an uphill battle against Barcelona, having lost the first leg 2–0 on a terrible pitch. The team is looking to its famously rowdy home support to help change the momentum. They’ll be looking to use that energy of BVB Stadium to create the comeback of all comebacks.
Key Injuries and Team Lineup
Dortmund will be missing important players in their starting XI. Austrian international midfielder Marcel Sabitzer and German international defender Nico Schlotterbeck are out with knee injuries. Specific to Coach Niko Kovac’s current challenges are the issues as he flexes his first-choice XI. This projection includes goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, defenders Ramy Bensebaini and Anton, midfielders Emre Can and Marius Wolf and forwards Donyell Malen and Marco Reus. The complete list includes a number of burgeoning stars, including Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, who has impressed in his two starts the last five weeks.
In their last five outings across all competitions, Dortmund has recorded mixed results with two wins, one draw, and two losses. Their last performance was a lost cause, after winning their performance before that. Coach Kovac acknowledged the emotional toll of such losses, stating:
“Defeats always hurt, especially big ones. But I saw some good things out there and now it’s my job to communicate them to my players.” – Niko Kovac
This complicated blend of performance has left fans excited, optimistic, hesitant yet hopeful as they look towards the all important second leg against FC Barcelona.
Barcelona’s Preparedness
Barcelona does come into the match in confident mood, having taken care of business with a first-leg advantage. Coach Hans Flick emphasized the need for his team to remain vigilant as they travel to Dortmund:
“Dortmund are a good team, so we are already aware that we need to travel over there and commit as few errors as possible. Our three guys up front are terrific and very important, but so is our defence.” – Hans Flick
Barcelona’s tactical approach will likely focus on minimizing mistakes while leveraging their attacking prowess, which has proven effective in their previous encounters with Dortmund.
Historical Context and Fan Expectations
The recent history between Dortmund and Barcelona only adds greater intrigue to this matchup. Although Dortmund has never defeated the Catalan club, the yellow wall of supporters is confident their Bundesliga side will have enough to come through at home. Their raucous home support inside BVB Stadium would further catch the players up in a whirlwind and carry them that much farther. They’re primed and ready to take on one of Europe’s top clubs!
And the pressure mounts as thousands of fans prepare for what is sure to be a memorable night. They’ll be hoping to see Dortmund change their luck with Barcelona. Next week’s clash will be about more than results. On the line is the opportunity to reclaim pride and achieve redemption for a team that has suffered through recent disappointment.
