Borussia Dortmund will need the likes of Marco Reus and Jadon Sancho firing on all cylinders if they’re to overturn a 3-0 deficit in Tuesday’s decisive UEFA Champions League last-16 second leg against Tottenham Hotspur at the Signal Iduna Park (kick-off: 9.00pm CET/8.00pm GMT/3.00pm ET).
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After losing just once en route to topping Champions League Group A ahead of Atletico Madrid, Dortmund have been left with a mountain to climb in the knockout rounds. The Black-Yellows need to score at least three goals to have any chance of progressing to the quarter-finals, but if anyone can do it it’s Dortmund. The Bundesliga leaders are unbeaten on home soil across 90 minutes this season, most notably dispatching Atletico 4-0 in the groups, and have captain Reus back in their ranks. The Germany international was sorely missed in the first leg, but managed 66 minutes of the surprise 2-1 defeat at Augsburg on Friday and should start. If fit, Chelsea-bound USA international Christian Pulisic could line up on the opposite flank to London-born Sancho.
Tottenham travel to Dortmund with their very own talisman in tow in the form of 21-goal top scorer Harry Kane. The England forward was a spectator as former Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen forward Heung-Min Son opened the scoring in the first leg, but returned to action a week later with a goal in the 2-1 defeat to Burnley. Spurs are still missing England midfielder Delle Ali, however. Mauricio Pochettino’s fading English Premier League title hopefuls drew 1-1 with Arsenal at the weekend, but head to Dortmund without an away win in Europe all season and having lost their last four domestic games in a row on their travels.
Watch: What makes Jadon Sancho such an asset for Dortmund?
Match stats
- As well as Atletico, Dortmund beat Monaco 3-0 and drew 0-0 with Club Brugge in their home games during the group stage.
- BVB have not lost at home in 90 minutes since 5 May 2018 (18 matches).
- Reus has 17 goals and 10 assists in all competitions this season.
- Reus scored twice as Dortmund recorded a 5-1 aggregate win over Tottenham, including a 3-0 triumph at home, in the 2015/16 UEFA Europa League Round of 16.
- Former Watford and Manchester City youth player Sancho only trails Barcelona’s Lionel Messi for assists across Europe’s top five leagues this season (10 to 11).
- Son hit 41 goals and 10 assists in 135 Bundesliga appearances for Hamburg and Leverkusen between 2010 and 2015.
Probable line-ups
Dortmund: Bürki – Hakimi, Akanji, Zagadou, Diallo – Witsel, Delaney – Sancho, Reus (c), Guerreiro – Götze
Out: Piszczek (heel)
Doubtful: Pulisic (hamstring)
Coach: Lucien Favre
Tottenham: Lloris (c) – Foyth, Sanchez, Alderweireld – Aurier, Sissoko, Winks, Vertonghen – Eriksen – Son, Kane
Out: Alli (hamstring)
Doubtful: Dier (tonsillitis), Winks (hip)
Coach: Mauricio Pochettino
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