Preview
Tottenham Hotspur are due to be entertained by Borussia Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday in the much anticipated second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 tie.
Spurs dominated the first leg at home as they secured a thumping 3-0 win over Die Borussen and owing to the cushion of three goals, they will be optimistic of their entry into the quarter-finals of the elite European competition.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side have seen a dip in their domestic form though, having managed to bag just one point from their last three league games. Their latest outing ended in a 1-1 draw with their bitter rivals Arsenal in the league fixture.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund have also suffered a blow in the race for the German Bundesliga title following their shock 2-1 loss at the hands of Augsburg at the weekend and are level on points with Bayern Munich at the top of the league standings.
Although things have not been panning out in favour of the German giants, they will certainly be boosted with the availability of Marco Reus who didn’t play in the first leg due to an injury but did start against Augsburg.
Lucien Favre’s side are more than capable of causing an upset, but Spurs do boast a resilient backline and a lethal attacking armoury. The upcoming fixture, therefore, promises to be an exciting affair at the onset.
Borussia Dortmund Team News
Lukasz Piszczek is expected to be the only absentee for the home side owing to his injury. Marcel Schmelzer is also doubtful to feature against Spurs as he is currently nursing a foot injury.
Tottenham Hotspur Team News
Dele Alli’s absence has been one of the major headaches for the north London based outfit. The English international is out with a hamstring injury and is set to miss out on the midweek fixture as well.
Although Eric Dier is suffering from tonsilitis, he should recover in time. Meanwhile, Harry Winks was ruled out of the north London derby due to a hip injury and is doubtful while Kieran Trippier has not travelled with the squad.
Predicted Lineups
Borussia Dortmund (4-2-3-1): Burki; Hakimi, Akanji, Zagadou, Diallo; Witsel, Delaney; Sancho, Reus, Pulisic; Alcacer.
Tottenham Hotspur (5-3-2): Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Sanchez, Davies; Sissoko, Dier, Eriksen; Son, Kane.
Odds
Borussia Dortmund Win: 19/20
Draw: 29/10
Tottenham Hotspur Win: 29/10
Predicted Result
We expect a 2-1 win for Borussia Dortmund, with the Lilywhites paving their way into the last eight of the Champions League.
