Spurs VS Dortmund PREview
Intro
Tottenham Hotspurs will meet now familiar German foe Borussia Dortmund for the third time in just four seasons in an exciting second-round tie. The first time around in a 2016 Europa League round of 16 two-legged contest Dortmund had their way with the North Londoners winning 5-1 on aggregate, cruising to victories both home and away.
A much improved, rather a more mature Tottenham squad met Borussia again last season in the Champions League group stage in a tough group containing eventual champions Real Madrid. Spurs were impressive topping the difficult group dismissing a hapless Dortmund team in both the home and away fixtures as well as securing a now famous 3-1 victory over the Zidane led Real Madrid team.
On the other hand, Dortmund in that same group became the first ever German club to not win a single game in the Champions League group stages as they finished with just two points, two draws to bottom club APOEL. This underwhelming European performance in addition to the team's worrying 8th place position in the Bundesliga saw the dismissal of Dutchman Peter Bosz.
This season Dortmund turned to former Borussia Mönchengladbach super trainer Lucien Favre. Farve worked closely with German Footballer of Year Marco Reus in Gladbach and their reunion has been the catalyst for a potent Dortmund lineup that won't be like the one Spurs faced a year ago.
Dortmund topped their Champions League group this time around. In the process, the BVB put four past a traditionally study Athletico Madrid defence. In the Bundesliga, Dortmund is soaring, losing just once all season while holding onto the first place position since September. Dortmund 51 goals scored is a league-high and a testament to the unbelievable attacking potential.
In the Premier League despite not venturing in the transfer market for the second consecutive window Spurs have continued as usual and are quietly chasing the league title. Mauricio Pochettino has built a result based unit that has not drawn a single league game this season. Frequently made the topic of jokes because of this teams inability to win silverware a win against Dortmund would see this team match Harry Redknapp's 2011's quarterfinal run, Spurs best finish in the Champions League.
Predicted Line-up-Tottenham Hotspurs
Predicted Line-up-Dortmund
Harry Kane scored against Dortmund in both ties last season and will definitely be unavailable for the first leg. The England captain is essential to everything Tottenham does and will obviously be a massive miss. However, Son Heung-min is in devasting form and Spurs have shown they can get the job done without Sir Harry. Son's record against Dortmund is mind-boggling the attacker has scored 8 goals in just 9 games against the German table toppers. Son has scored more goals against Dortmund than any other team in his career. Dele Alli is also a major injury doubt meaning that Spurs may use Llorente to help on the offensive front. The clam and pure skill of Mousa Dembele will also be missed as he decided to continue his career in China. Poch will have to tactically decide if to include Sanchez in a back three along with his trusted Belgium pair or go with a back four. Lucas scored the all-important goal at the Nou Camp for Spurs to even reach to this game and the Brazilan might be a real wild card over the two legs. Christian Eriksen is one of the few Spurs players unwilling to sign a new long term deal and another failure at this stage might be a reason for the creator to abandon his role in this North London venture.
Goals(all season)- Harry Kane 20, Son Heung-min 11, Lucas Moura 8
Assists(all season)- Christian Eriksen 10, Son Heung-min 9, Harry Kane 6
Key Player- Son Heung min, with Harry Kane an injury doubt and Son's remarkable record against Dortmund it can only be him.
English football fans will finally get to see teenage phenom in club action as Jadon Sancho it set to take centre stage in this fixture. Dortmund has always had pulsating young players on display but what makes this particular Dortmund unit so unique is its experienced core. The signings of the ultra-seasoned Axel Witsel and midfield enforcer Thomas Delaney has been a masterstroke. Both players have orchestrated the unleashing of Marco Reus who has picked up the Bundesliga Player of the Month award three times already this season. Around this experienced core are some of the most promising young talents in world football. Along with Sancho, the on-loan Hakimi has been brilliant at left back, Akanji, Diallo and Zagadou are all on top of the bigger European teams shopping lists. Throw in American 20-year-old superstar Christian Pulisic, Portuguese European Champion Raphaël Guerreiro and German darling Mario Gotze, Dortmund has an abundance of attacking options. There are some injury concerns for the Westfalenstadion faithful. Marco Reus is not 100 % fit and it is now confirmed he will at least miss the first leg while Akanji, Zagadou, Paco and Weigel are also major doubts.
Goals(all season)- Marco Reus 17, Paco Alcácer 13, Jadon Sancho 7
Assists(all season)- Jadon Sancho 12, Marco Reus 11, Achraf Hakimi 7
Key Player- Marco Reus, once fit there are few better players in the game. Reus' connection with Farve has been the core of this team's success this season and it needs to continue if they are to finish this season as well as they have started.