Dortmund – Sevilla : Preview & Prediction
Borussia Dortmund could lighten their demanding October schedule by beating Sevilla FC for the second time in less than a week and seal their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) with two games still to play. Not only would it be a great achievement for coach Edin Terzić, but it would also make it easier for him to fight to win the DFB-Pokal again – he was crowned champion in 2020/21 as interim coach – with Dortmund visiting Hannover 96 on October 19.
Two wins by a margin of three goals apiece in the group stage have compensated for Dortmund’s inconsistent league form, which came from salvaging a point at home to Bayern Munich thanks to a 95th-minute Anthony Modeste goal (2-2), snapping a seven-game losing streak to the Bavarians in the Bundesliga. Most of the goals scored by the Black-and-Whites in their two UCL victories have come before half-time, with all three of their matches, including the 2-1 loss to Manchester City, ending in clean sheets.
Jorge Sampaoli’s second spell in charge of Sevilla began with a 1-1 draw against Athletic Club at the Sanchez-Pizjuan, and the veteran Argentine coach has promised a “rebuilding” of the Blanquirrojo side, third in Group G with just one point from a 0-0 draw away to Copenhagen last month. Sevilla face a real final at Signal Iduna Park, and it remains to be seen if the Sevilla side will show a completely different side to the last match under Julen Lopetegui, in which the blanquirrojos conceded three first-half goals and ended up losing 4-1 to their opponents on Tuesday.
It is crucial for Sampaoli to get his players to improve significantly in the second half, and even more so given Dortmund’s attacking output in their two UCL wins. Incredibly, Sevilla have yet to win a second half in any competition this season (2Q: E3, P8), not even in their 3-2 away win over Espanyol in September.
Players to watch: With goals in Dortmund’s last two home league games, Youssoufa Moukoko could again play a key role after signing two assists against Sevilla on matchday 3. Youssef En-Nesyri, scorer of Sevilla’s only goal in this group stage, has tasted victory in just one of the last five matches in which he has found the back of the net for his club (G1, E3, P1).
Serie A highlight: Dortmund’s last seven official matches have seen at least one goal from the 75th minute onwards.
Dortmund – Sevilla : Betting Tips
Dortmund – Win Odds: 1.55
