Verdict: Home win
Best odds: 11/8
Bookmaker: 888sport
Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan, both in search of their first Champions League Group F victory, will face off at the Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday.
In their opening match of the group stage, Edin Terzic’s team suffered a 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. Milan, on the other hand, played to a frustrating 0-0 draw with Newcastle United in their first group stage match.
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund faced a challenging task in their opening Champions League match against PSG, and they were unable to secure a positive result at the Parc des Princes. PSG’s superiority led to a 2-0 defeat for Dortmund, with Kylian Mbappe converting a penalty in the 49th minute after Niklas Sule’s handball, and former Dortmund wing-back Achraf Hakimi adding another goal for PSG before the hour mark.
This defeat marked the end of Dortmund’s 13-game unbeaten run across all competitions. They currently occupy the last place in Group F, but there is plenty of continental football left to be played. Following their opening Champions League setback, Dortmund responded with two Bundesliga victories over Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim.
Despite a red card for Ramy Bensebaini against Hoffenheim, Dortmund managed to take all three points. Niclas Fullkrug scored his first goal for Dortmund, Marco Reus netted with an improvised effort, and Julian Ryerson contributed with a sensational solo run. However, Dortmund have only kept one clean sheet in their last six matches, and they will be looking to tighten up their back line.
In the Champions League, Dortmund have been more solid defensively at home, conceding just one goal in their last five continental games at Signal Iduna Park. They will aim to maintain this defensive resilience against Milan.
Team News
Ramy Bensebaini, despite facing a domestic ban, is eligible to take his place in the Borussia Dortmund lineup this week. However, Mateu Morey (knee) and Thomas Meunier (hamstring) are unavailable due to their respective injuries.
Marcel Sabitzer is working on his recovery from an adductor problem he sustained against PSG, and while there is hope that he will resume training this week, the match against Milan might come too soon for the Austrian. In his absence, Salih Ozcan is expected to fill his role.
Emre Can, who was a second-half substitute against Hoffenheim, is likely to return to the midfield alongside Ozcan. The performance of Marco Reus, who has scored three Bundesliga goals this season, will be a key factor in determining whether Karim Adeyemi earns a starting spot in the lineup.
AC Milan
Milan had plenty of chances but couldn’t capitalize on them during their Champions League clash with Newcastle two weeks ago. Stefano Pioli’s team couldn’t overcome their own wastefulness, resolute Newcastle defending, and the heroic efforts of Nick Pope, resulting in a goalless draw to start their European campaign.
Despite the disappointment in Europe, Milan has been in excellent domestic form, winning each of their last three Serie A matches. In their most recent match against Lazio, two second-half goals, scored by Noah Okafor and Christian Pulisic following Rafael Leao’s assists, secured a 2-0 victory.
Milan’s goalless draw with Newcastle is the only time this season that they have failed to score. However, they have struggled to find the back of the net in the Champions League, with just two goals in their last 540 minutes of top-level continental football. They have failed to score in each of their last three Champions League matches.
Team News
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who recently joined Milan from Chelsea, sustained an abdominal injury during the match against Lazio at the weekend. He is expected to miss the next two matches before the international break.
Pioli’s midfield options are further limited as Ismael Bennacer is dealing with a knee injury, and Rade Krunic has a muscle problem, making them unavailable. As a result, Yunus Musah is expected to join Tijjani Reijnders in the midfield trident, with either Tommaso Pobega or Yacine Adli completing the midfield trio.
In addition to the midfield problems, defender Mattia Caldara is sidelined with an ankle injury, and Pierre Kalulu is dealing with a muscle problem.
Christian Pulisic, who scored a goal at the weekend, is likely to start on the right flank against his former club, though he will face competition from Samuel Chukwueze.
Conclusion
Borussia Dortmund has been unbeaten at home since August 2022, and they will be aiming to extend their impressive streak at Signal Iduna Park. Milan, on the other hand, are dealing with a depleted midfield, which could impact their attacking prowess.
Milan have struggled to produce prolific attacking displays in the Champions League, and while they are typically strong in domestic competitions, they might find it challenging to break down a Dortmund side with a solid defensive setup in front of their home crowd.
The stage is set for an intriguing contest between these two teams, and Dortmund will be hoping to capitalize on Milan’s midfield limitations to secure a positive result in front of their home fans.
Verdict: Home win
Best odds: 11/8
Bookmaker: 888sport
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