Borussia Dortmund’s 2024/25 Champions League campaign begins in Belgium on Wednesday as they take on Club Brugge.
Dortmund were surprise finalists last season under Edin Terzic before losing 2-0 at Wembley to perennial victors Real Madrid. Terzic has since left the club with former midfielder Nuri Sahin overseeing a productive start to the new season.
BVB are second in the Bundesliga through three games, and they start their continental journey off the back of an impressive 4-2 victory over Heidenheim on Friday night.
Club Brugge, meanwhile, have grown familiar with the Champions League in recent years but were involved in the Conference League last season, reaching the semi-finals.
They finished atop the Belgian Pro League last term and are currently leading the division having accumulated 13 points through seven games. Their start to the season certainly hasn’t been perfect with the champions already losing twice domestically.
Here’s 90min’s preview of Wednesday’s Champions League clash.
The hosts have just one injury concern of note for their league phase opener. Bjorn Meijer is a doubt with a knee injury sustained during the backend of last season. The young defender is closing in on a return.
Club Brugge are still inspired by veteran midfielder Hans Vanaken going forward, while Andreas Skov Olsen reportedly caught the eye of Arsenal over the summer.
Club Brugge predicted lineup vs Dortmund (4-2-3-1): Mignolet; Seys, Mechele, Roberto, De Cuyper; Vetlesen, Jashari; Skov Olsen, Vanaken, Tzolis; Nilsson.
Dortmund, like the hosts, don’t have too many concerns on the injury front. Fringe playmaker Giovanni Reyna suffered a groin strain over the international break and was absent during Friday’s win.
The USMNT star is likely to miss Wednesday’s game and he could endure a brief period on the sidelines.
Pascal Gross and Waldemar Anton are among the club’s new arrivals to settle into Sahin’s starting XI immediately. Karim Adeyemi is also is superb form.
Dortmund predicted lineup vs Club Brugge (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Anton, Sule, Bensebaini; Gross, Can; Malen, Brandt, Adeyemi; Guirassy.
There have been some promising early signs with Sahin at the helm, and Dortmund’s performance in this competition last season will hand them plenty of confidence heading into the all-new league phase.
Dortmund, however, are considerably inferior away from home and they may find life difficult in the hostile Jan Breydelstadion on Wednesday. Club Brugge won’t be overwhelmed by the occasion – this is their 11th Champions League campaign – and they’ll be keen to ignite their campaign with a big performance on Matchday 1.
This could be a fiery and frenetic contest with the spoils being shared.
