Borussia Dortmund predicted lineup vs PSG – Champions League
Borussia Dortmund will compete in their first Champions League semi-final in over a decade on Wednesday night.
Their previous appearance in the last four was hugely significant, with their mauling of Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid in 2013 depicting European football’s power shit away from Spanish supremacy to ruthless German gegenpressing.
Stylistic contrasts are less distinct 11 years on, although Dortmund will be facing up against a Barcelona graduate who typifies post-Cruyffianism in PSG boss Luis Enrique. Edin Terzic, however, is no Jurgen Klopp.
Dortmund have endured an indifferent domestic campaign and are unlikely to secure Champions League football for next season via their Bundesliga performance. However, a stirring second leg triumph over Atletico Madrid means they are deserving semi-finalists, and they’ll be facing a PSG side that they lost and drew to in the group stages for a place at Wembley.
Here’s how Dortmund could line up for Wednesday’s first leg on home soil.
GK: Gregor Kobel – Dortmund’s number one has enjoyed another fine season, and he’s a shoo-in to start on Wednesday night.
RB: Julian Ryerson – A Duracell bunny down the right flank, Ryerson might have the task of slowing down Kylian Mbappe in Dortmund.
CB: Mats Hummels – The veteran defender has played every minute of BVB’s Champions League campaign thus far. He’ll need to produce a vintage performance over these two legs to aid his side’s chances of progression.
CB: Nico Schlotterbeck – The experienced Niklas Sule is an option for Terzic, but Schlotterbeck has been preferred alongside Hummels and that’s unlikely to change on Wednesday.
LB: Ian Maatsen – The Chelsea loanee is carrying a knock, but he should be fine for the first leg. Maatsen scored during Dortmund’s 4-2 victory over Atletico which helped them into the last four.
CM: Emre Can – Terzic’s Swiss Army knife has settled into a midfield role where he functions as Dortmund’s enforcer. He’ll have his work cut out against a technically majestic PSG engine room.
CM: Marcel Sabitzer – PSG would likely be preparing for Diego Simeone’s dark arts if it wasn’t for Sabitzer. The Austrian midfielder inspired Dortmund during the second half of their quarter-final second leg against Atleti, scoring and assisting in the 4-2 win.
RM: Jadon Sancho – Sancho’s stunning opener was quickly forgotten at the weekend as RB Leipzig eventually battered BVB 4-1 to boost their chances of Champions League qualification. The Englishman has certainly flickered his brilliance since returning to the club on loan in January.
AM: Julian Brandt – The slick German operates as Dortmund’s key link man in transition. Brandt has a huge role to play against a PSG side that will aim to dominate possession but surrender counter-attacking opportunities.
LM: Karim Adeyemi – Like Brandt, Adeyemi has a huge role to play on the counter. We could see a lightning-quick duel between the German and PSG’s Achraf Hakimi.
ST: Niclas Fullkrug – With Sebastien Haller out, Fullkrug starts up top by default. The German is far from prolific, but he’ll help Dortmund get up the pitch as a result of his hold-up play.