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Welcome to what promises to be a captivating encounter in the UCL 2023-24 Round of 16. Borussia Dortmund, renowned for their blistering attacks and fervent home support at Signal Iduna Park, brace themselves to take on PSV in what is set to be a tantalizing showdown.
With a short history between these two sides, boasting two previous encounters where Dortmund emerged victorious once, and the teams settling for a draw in their last meeting, the stage is set for another compelling clash.
As the Bundesliga giants, Dortmund currently find themselves in a challenging position domestically, trailing behind Stuttgart at fourth position, while PSV dominates the Eredivisie with a comfortable lead at the summit.Β
After a tightly contested first leg that ended in a 1-1 draw, PSV now ventures into the lion's den of Signal Iduna Park, where the Yellow Wall will undoubtedly roar in support of their team. Join us as we delve into the intricacies of this upcoming clash and make our predictions for what promises to be an enthralling spectacle.
With Dortmund's dynamic frontline and PSV's goal-scoring threat, the likelihood of a high-scoring affair is quite plausible.
The betting tip is...
Over 2.5 Goals to be scored
73 %
27 %
In the absence of Nico Schlotterbeck, Borussia Dortmund faces a defensive reshuffle, with key players stepping up to fill the void. While Sebastien Haller remains sidelined until April, the return of Sule and Nmecha injects depth and quality into Dortmund's squad.
Donyell Malen, fresh from his goal-scoring exploits against his former club, will feature in Dortmund's attacking thrust in some capacity. Supported by the creative prowess of Sabitzer and the leadership of captain Emre Can in midfield, Dortmund aims to maintain their attacking impetus.
The attacking trio of Reus, Sancho, and FΓΌllkrug, who showcased their potency in the previous match, will once again lead Dortmund's offensive charge. Additionally, the inclusion of Brandt and Sule is anticipated, providing further options and solidity to Dortmund's lineup. As the team gears up for a crucial encounter, they'll be banking on the collective effort of their star-studded squad to secure a favourable result.
Brandt could start in place of Malen. Sule comes in too.
Predicted Lineup: A. Meyer, Niklas Sule, Mats Hummels, N. Schlotterbeck, I. Maatsen, M. Sabitzer, Emre Can, Donyell Malen, Marco Reus, Jadon Sancho, N. FΓΌllkrug
As PSV gears up for their crucial UCL clash against Borussia Dortmund, they face both setbacks and strengths within their squad. The absence of Lang due to a season-ending hamstring injury deals a significant blow to their defensive line, while the potential return of Ledezma offers a glimmer of hope in midfield.
Despite injury concerns, PSV boasts formidable attacking prowess, led by the prolific Luuk De Jong, who has been in sensational form, netting an impressive 22 goals and providing 11 assists. Joey Veerman, with his creative flair, has contributed significantly with 11 assists, while Bakayoko adds a goal-scoring threat with 6 goals and 8 assists.
In goal, Walter BenΓtez has proven his mettle with a commendable 75% save percentage, assuring the PSV defence. With key players stepping up and others returning from injury, PSV aims to capitalise on their strengths and overcome adversity to secure a positive result against Dortmund.
Veerman, Bakayoko and De Jong are in-form players.
Predicted Lineup: Walter BenΓtez, J. Teze, J. Schouten, O. Boscagli, Sergio Dest, M. Tillman, T. Veerman, I. Saibari, J. Bakayoko, L. De Jong, H. Lozano
Dortmund's defensive reshuffle might initially pose some vulnerabilities, especially against the goal-scoring prowess of PSV's De Jong and Bakayoko.Β
PSV's injury concerns, especially the absence of Lang, could weaken their defensive solidity, making them susceptible to Dortmund's relentless attacking pressure. Despite this, the potential return of Ledezma could inject creativity and energy into PSV's midfield, offering them a chance to exploit any defensive lapses from Dortmund.
In a highly anticipated encounter, expect Dortmund's home advantage and depth in midfield to give them the edge, but PSV's attacking threat could keep the contest fiercely competitive until the final whistle. A narrow win for Dortmund could be the result.
