Overview
When the Champions League season starts, Juventus will host Dortmund at the Allianz Stadium.
The Serie A representative is aiming to extend the perfect start to the season, after a dramatic 4-3 victory over Inter Milan last weekend. Meanwhile, Dortmund also have a favorable preparation with a 2-0 victory over Heidenheim in the Bundesliga.
Juventus were led 3-2 by Inter Milan when Marcus Thuram scored in the 76th minute, but two late goals from the 83rd minute onwards helped the "Old Diem" make a spectacular comeback. Thereby, they won their third consecutive Serie A victory and temporarily ranked second in the group after Napoli due to a goal difference.
This victory means that Juventus won all 3 opening rounds of the 2025-2026 season, bringing their record to 4 wins in the last 6 matches in all competitions. Their only two defeats in that period both came at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
Although the attack has scored 7 goals in 3 matches, coach Igor Tudor's team has failed to keep a clean sheet for the first time this season when facing Inter.
Last season, Juventus' journey in the Champions League was disappointing. They are only 20th in the group stage with 9 points and despite a place in the play-off, Juventus were eliminated by PSV Eindhoven with a total score of 3-4. Worryingly, the Turin team has failed to score in 3 of the last 4 matches of the group stage.
In the same period, Juventus defeated RB Leipzig 3-2 in October 2024 but lost 0-1 to Stuttgart.
At home, the Bianconeri have won 6 consecutive matches - all in Serie A. However, their European record at the Allianz is not very impressive, with 2 defeats in the last 4 matches.
Meanwhile, the victory over Heidenheim became more favorable for Dortmund when the opponent had to play with one less player for nearly 70 minutes. However, they still deserve to be recognized for creating three big chances and only allowing the opponent to launch a shot on target.
This is Dortmund's second consecutive clean sheet, and also the third time in 4 matches this season - an achievement equal to the number of clean sheets in their previous 19 matches.
In the 2024-2025 Champions League, Dortmund stopped in the quarter-finals against Barcelona. They lost 0-4 in the first leg before being relegated with a 3-1 victory in the second leg.
Dortmund's last time facing Juventus in the European Cup was in the 1/8 round of the 2014-2015 season, where they lost 1-5 overall. Previously, the German team won against "Ba Lam gia" in both official encounters.
Under the leadership of coach Niko Kovac, Dortmund is having an impressive start with 3 wins and 1 draw. They are temporarily ranked second in the Bundesliga with 7 points after 3 rounds.
away, Dortmund have won 2 and drawn 1 in the first 3 matches of the 2025-2026 season. In the previous season, they also ended a 3-match unbeaten streak away from home (2 wins, 1 draw).
Personnel situation
Most of Juventus' key players are ready to take the field. If he is not injured at the last minute, centre-back Bremer is likely to be sent off in the centre of the three-man defence with Federico Gatti and Lloyd Kelly.
Manuel Locatelli's ability to escape pressing and regulate the tempo will play a key role in midfield, where he can play alongside Khephren Thuram.
Up front, the duo Jonathan David and Dusan Vlahovic are likely to start, with the support of young talent Kenan Yildiz behind.
On the other hand, Dortmund impressed with a solid defense despite the absence of Emre Can, Niklas Sule and Nico Schlotterbeck. With limited defensive options, Niko Kovac is almost certain to use the trio of Aaron Anselmino, Waldemar Anton and Ramy Bensebaini in the back.
Jobe Bellingham will have the opportunity to show himself in the Champions League, as he is expected to support striker Serhou Guirassy in attack.
Expected lineup:
Juventus: Di Gregorio, Gatti, Bremer,elly, Kalulu, Locatelli, Thuram, McKennie, Yildiz, Vlahovic, David.
Dortmund: Kobel, Anselmino, Anton, Bensebaini, Couto, Sabitzer, Bellingham, Svensson, Brandt, Beier, Guirassy.
The match between Juventus and Dortmund takes place at 2:00 am on September 17 (Vietnam time).
