Overview
Dortmund have started the 2024-2025 season quite impressively with 3 wins and 1 draw. Last weekend, coach Nuri Sahin's team defeated Heidemheim 4-2 at home. This victory helped them gain psychological momentum before entering the opening match of the Champions League.
As for Club Brugge, they are currently leading the Belgian national championship with 4 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses. However, the two teams below them, Genk and Anderlecht, still have a game in hand. In addition, Club Brugge lost to Union SG in the Belgian Super Cup earlier this season, despite playing at home at the Jan Breydelstadion.
Club Brugge is Dortmund’s favorite opponent in European competition. In the 2019-2020 Champions League, the two teams met in the group stage. At that time, the German representative won both matches with the same score of 3-0.
Looking further back, Dortmund and Club Brugge have faced each other 9 times in history. The German representative has a better record with 5 wins. Club Brugge has lost in both of their most recent meetings with Dortmund.
In general, the class difference between the two teams is not small, because Dortmund has been a major force in German football for many years.
Coach Sahin is aiming for his first win in the continental arena as a head coach. Club Brugge is a challenge that is suitable for this young strategist to achieve that goal.
Dortmund have reached the Champions League knockout stages in all but two of their last 11 campaigns, so that will be their minimum target under Sahin, who replaced Terzic as head coach this summer.
Human resources situation
New signing Serhou Guirassy will compete with Maximilian Beier for a starting spot for Dortmund. Karim Adeyemi is another striker for the visitors who is also in good form.
Brazilian winger Yan Couto was forced to withdraw from the Brazil squad through injury. However, he returned as a substitute against Heidenheim. Meanwhile, Gio Reyna could miss out with a groin problem.
On the other side of the front line, Kyriani Sabbe has returned from injury but Bjorn Meijer and Casper Nielsen are still sidelined.
Danish winger Andreas Skov Olsen is the hosts' top scorer this season with three goals, while teenager Chemsdine Talbi has also made some breakthrough performances.
Expected lineup:
Club Brugge: Mignolet, Seys, Mechele, Ordonez, De Cuyper, Onyedika, Vetlesen, Skov Olsen, Vanaken, Tzolis, Nilsson.
Dortmund: Kobel, Ryerson, Anton, Sule, Bensebaini, E. Can, Gross, Sabitzer, Brandt, Adeyemi, Guirassy.
The match between Club Brugge and Dortmund takes place at 2:00 a.m. on September 19 (Vietnam time).
