After a dramatic win over the weekend against Bayer Leverkusen, Marco Rose will lead Borussia Dortmund for the first time in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
The Black and Yellow lads are set to be hosted by Turkish outfit, Besiktas JK in their first group game of the 2021/22 Champions League season.
Besiktas won their ticket to this season’s European competition after winning the Super Lig on goal difference. The Turkish side has been good so far this season in their title defence, winning three and drawing one of their opening four games.
Dortmund on the other hand despite losing a game already, has been an interesting side to watch under Rose, who has got them playing some wonderful football.
This will be the first meeting between these two teams in the Champions League, and Dortmund looks the favourite to topple their Turkish opposition.
Erling Braut Haaland will obviously be a player to keep an eye on for Besiktas. The forward has been instrumental and has been in red hot form for the German side since the start of the season.
His impact in the Champions League has also been evident in the last two seasons and will be a threat for the home team.
WHERE AND WHEN?
Venue: Vodafone Park
Date: Wednesday, September 15
Time: 16:45 GMT
TEAM NEWS
The home side just have two injury concerns to worry about as Alex Texeira and Domgoj Vida are both unavailable for the game. Michy Batshuayi will fancy facing a familiar face having played for Dortmund in the past.
On the side of Dortmund, Giovanni Reyna and Emre Can are two players who are completely ruled out alongside Dan-Axel Zagadou. Nico Schulz and Thorgan Hazard’s involvements are doubtful but Mats Hummels is likely to return to the starting line-up.
EXPECTED STARTING LINEUPS
Besiktas: Destanoglu; Rosier, Uysal, Welinton, Yilmaz; Josef, Pjanic; Ghezzal, Ucan, N’Koudou; Batshuayi.
Dortmund: Kobel; Meunier, Akanji, Hummels, Guerreiro; Dahoud, Witsel, Bellingham; Reus, Haaland, Brandt.
PREDICTION
Besiktas 1-3 Borussia Dortmund
