Champions League
Showdown against Inter: BVB wants to reach the knockout phase with “magic”.
Dortmund will take a lot of self-confidence with them into the Champions League from their victory in Berlin. But a different caliber is now waiting there. It’s also about a good starting position in the playoffs.
With the power of the south stand and the fighting qualities they have recently shown, Borussia Dortmund wants to make the knockout phase of the premier class clear on the XXL match day. “Inter is a top team, but we are playing at home,” said BVB coach Niko Kovac before the duel at the end of the league phase against Inter Milan. “And if we play at home with our fans behind us, we can beat any team in the Champions League.”
In order for this to also apply to the sovereign Serie A leaders this Wednesday (9 p.m./DAZN), Dortmund need an exceptional performance. “We’ve had some great games here at home,” said goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. “If something like this is brewing there, then it’s something very special here.” It’s also about a good starting position in the playoffs.
Inter is Italy’s goal factory
In the Champions, the Westphalians recently disappointed at Tottenham Hotspur (0:2) and at home against the Norwegians from Bodö/Glimt (2:2). In the convincing 3-0 win at 1. FC Union Berlin on Saturday, the BVB professionals showed how it can work. With a lot of commitment and consistent duels as a basis.
Captain Emre Can called it “men’s football.” “We clearly stood up to it. That should always be our aim.” Of course, the 32-year-old also knows that a much more demanding task awaits him and his defensive colleagues against the exceptional talents from northern Italy. Inter will present the defense – Dortmund’s new showpiece – with its biggest challenge in recent memory.
With 50 goals in 22 games, the Milanese are the goal factory in the domestic league. World champion Lautaro Martínez leads the top scorers list. BVB also has to watch out for former Mönchengladbacher Marcus Thuram. “We can’t be naive because on the other side there are really, really great footballers,” said Kovac.
Playoff second leg at home as a goal
Coach Cristian Chivu’s team has been undefeated in Serie A since November. In the premier class, Atlético Madrid, Liverpool and Arsenal recently showed that the Milanese can be beaten. In contrast to BVB, Inter with former Dortmund players Manuel Akanji and Henrich Mchitarjan are already mathematically guaranteed to at least reach the playoffs for the round of 16.
It is extremely unlikely that Dortmund, with currently eleven points, will fall from 16th to 25th place on the decisive match day with 18 simultaneous games. In order to achieve the minimum goal of the playoffs on their own, the Kovac team needs a point. The aim should also be not to slip behind 16th place.
The teams in places 9 to 16 have home advantage in the second legs of the playoffs and tend to have a chance of facing weaker opponents. “This stadium has a magic, it has an immense power, it has an energy that we want to use tomorrow,” emphasized Kovac.
Jumping into the top eight and thus a direct ticket to the round of 16 is still possible. However, for that to happen, a lot of competitors would have to make mistakes and Dortmund would need a win.
Looking at the previous appearances in the premier class, the fans can hope for a spectacle. In the seven Champions League games with BVB participation, 34 goals have been scored so far (19 goals for Dortmund, 15 goals conceded). The BVB games are the highest-scoring with an average of almost five goals per game.
dpa
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