Sevilla faces an in-different Borussia Dortmund side on Tuesday in the 1st leg of the Champions League, where both teams will looking to show how they could be dark horses for this year’s tournament.
Both teams are going in opposite ways with Sevilla defeating Barcelona 2-0 in 1st leg of the Copa Del Rey. Meanwhile, Dortmund currently sits outside the top four in the Bundesliga and needed extra time to defeat Paderborn 07 3-2 in the DFB-Pokal Cup.
Sevilla Face An In-Different Borussia Dortmund Side in the Champions League
Sevilla in Excellent Form Ahead of First Leg
Sevilla got an excellent player in Papu Gomez in the January transfer window from Atalanta. The Argentinean striker had a fantastic career with Atalanta scoring 59 goals and 71 assists in 252 games with the Italian club. The biggest question about Gomez is how will he fit in the locker room?
Obviously, there was a locker room issue during his tenure in Atalanta. Gomez has the benefit of playing for one of the best and underrated managers in football in Julen Lopetegui. It is another shrewd signing by Monchi as the Rojiblancos needed a midfielder to make a real sustainable impact in Europe and the league.
A player to watch is Jules Kounde as the centre-back continues his strong form which included a beautiful goal against Barcelona. Sevilla has to take advantage of him while he is still at the club. Big teams in Europe will want to acquire his services in the summer if he is to carry on with this form and consistency.
Youssef En-Nesyri is the team’s leading goal scorer with 13 goals. He isn’t talked about among the best forwards in La Liga because his team is defensive-minded and is not as prolific.
A world-class performance from him can change people’s perspective on him. Sevilla’s defence can frustrate Dortmund as they rely heavily on Erling Haaland.
Dortmund’s Young Stars Mis-Firing
Dortmund has lost three of their last four Bundesliga games. Not the ideal way to be playing, going to a crucial Champions League game. Too often the German club expects Haaland to carry their team and as great as he is he cannot do it all.
Teams have adjusted to Dortmund’s counter-attacking football and sit deeper with BVB providing no answer. The managerial change has not improved the team either as the sacking of Lucien Farve might have been a mistake considering under Edin Terzic the team has gotten worse. If Dortmund does not qualify for the Champions League next season financial repercussions will happen and stars will want out, Dortmund will likely hire someone else after this season.
This team has not responded well to going down in games such as against Freiburg, Bayern Leverkusen, and Borussia Mönchengladbach games which resulted in all three losses. At no point in any of those games did they even seem to be able to win it. If they get down to Sevilla it’s more likely than not they will lose despite all their talent. At some point, someone else besides Haaland will need to step up. Jadon Sancho has had a roller-coaster season but he has the quality to be the man. So does Gio Reyna.
Marco Reus needs to become a leader when his team is down. He is a Dortmund captain and has the experience playing Bundesliga football longer than many of his teammates.
Prediction
Sevilla, especially at home look unbeatable, and we predict them to win this first leg 2-0 because of their outstanding defence and team performance. The second hottest team in La Liga behind Atletico Madrid and superb manager in Lopetegui will be no match for Dortmund who has shown no consistency throughout the season.
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