Overview
Dortmund are going through a dismal period under new coach Nuri Sahin. In the first 3 matches of 2025, Dortmund suffered defeats and even conceded 9 goals.
In the Bundesliga, Dortmund has dropped to 10th place in the rankings. The task of competing for a ticket to the European Cup next season is becoming increasingly difficult for Sahin's team.
In this season's Champions League, things seem to be a little better for Dortmund. With 12 points after 6 matches, the Ruhr team still has a great chance to reach the round of 16, or even finish in the top 8.
With only having to face two relatively weak opponents, Bologna and Shakhtar Donetsk, in the remaining two matches, the door for Dortmund to enter the knockout round of the Champions League this season is wide open.
As for Bologna, they almost have no chance to compete for a place in the Champions League. Bologna is 6 points away from 24th place, while the League Phase of the Champions League has only 2 more matches to end.
Bologna have only managed two draws and scored just one goal in six Champions League games. Clearly, this is a playground beyond the reach of coach Vincenzo Italiano's team.
At the moment, Bologna's most likely target is to focus on Serie A, where they are still ranked 7th and have the potential to squeeze into the Champions League group next season. With Bologna likely to play conservatively, Dortmund can fully take advantage of this opportunity to win all 3 points.
This will be the first official match in the history of the two teams. However, it should be noted that the two teams met in a friendly in 2021, with Dortmund winning 3-0.
Human resources situation
Bologna midfielder Michel Aebischer will miss this match, as will Nicolo Cambiaghi and Oussama El Azzouzi.
On the other side of the front line, the away team will not have the service of Niklas Sule. Meanwhile, defender Ramy Bensebaini is suspended for this match because he received 3 yellow cards.
Expected lineup:
Bologna: Skorupski, Lykogiannis, Casale, Beukema, Holm, Moro, Freuler, Orsolini, Odgaard, Ndoye, Castro.
Dortmund: Kobel, Ryerson, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Kabar, Can, Gross, Nmecha, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens, Guirassy.
The match between Bologna and Dortmund takes place at 3:00 a.m. on January 22 (Vietnam time).
