Dortmund’s dominant 3-0 first-leg victory over Sporting in the knockout playoffs all but sealed their spot in the last 16, allowing them to comfortably see out a goalless draw in the second leg. The Champions League has been a source of relief for BVB amid their struggles in the Bundesliga, but under Niko Kovac, they are beginning to rediscover their form.
A 6-0 thrashing of Union Berlin on February 22 was followed by a routine 2-0 win over St. Pauli, with top scorer Serhou Guirassy netting again before Karim Adeyemi sealed the result. Despite their recent upturn, Dortmund remain mid-table in the Bundesliga and may need to progress deep into the Champions League.
Lille, meanwhile, have never progressed beyond the last 16 in the Champions League and will be eager to make history. The 2020-21 Ligue 1 winners enjoyed a thrilling league-phase campaign, defeating both Madrid giants and crushing Feyenoord 6-1. Their efficiency in front of goal—converting 22.7% of their chances, the highest in the competition.
However, their defensive vulnerabilities were exposed on Saturday when they suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. Despite the loss, Jonathan David’s late goal extended Lille’s scoring streak to 11 matches.
Dortmund will be without Felix Nmecha (knee) and Filippo Mane (muscle), while right-back Julian Ryerson remains a doubt after missing the win over St. Pauli due to illness. Yan Couto deputized well at the weekend and may retain his place.
For Lille, Jonathan David is set to return to the starting XI after coming off the bench against PSG. He needs just one more goal to become Lille’s all-time leading scorer in major European competitions. The visitors will, however, be without Tiago Santos (ACL), Samuel Umtiti (calf), Edon Zhegrova (groin), and the ineligible Nabil Bentaleb.
A battle of in-form strikers awaits, with Guirassy and David leading the lines for their respective sides. However, Dortmund’s recent resurgence, combined with Lille’s defensive inconsistency, gives them the upper hand. Expect an entertaining match, but with Kovac’s men coming out on top.
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