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3 months ago
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Verdict: Goal to be scored in both halves
Best Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
Looking to make an early Champions League statement on Wednesday night, Borussia Dortmund will travel to Belgium when they meet Club Brugge.
Club Brugge
Starting with the hosts, while Club Brugge might have opened up the new campaign with a real whimper, the reigning Pro League champions have come roaring back in an eye-catching fashion. Marking their return from September’s international break with a rampant performance as they stormed their way to a 3-0 victory away at Kortrijk, Nicky Hayen’s men are in the midst of an impressive flurry. Heading into the fortnight interval with another 3-0 romp against bitter local rivals Cercle Brugge on September 1st, Wednesday’s hosts have won all of their previous four Pro League appearances by an aggregate score of 9-2. Excited to get another Champions League adventure underway in midweek, the former Sint-Truiden coach has seen his squad impress with their clinical performances in the final third.
Team News
Yet to make a single appearance across any competition so far this season, Dutch U21 international Bjorn Meijer remains on the sidelines and will not feature on Wednesday night. However, aside from the former Groningen youngster, Club Brugge have reported a clean bill of health.
Now in his sixth campaign with the reigning Pro League champions, one-time Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet will start between the sticks here. Recording three domestic strikes so far this season and featuring for Denmark over the international break, 24-year-old Andreas Skov Olsen will play a leading role.
Borussia Dortmund
As for the visitors, while Borussia Dortmund might have suffered Champions League heartbreak back on June 1st as they fell to that 2-0 loss against Real Madrid at Wembley, the German giants haven’t shown any signs of a hangover. Clearly enjoying life under new boss Nuri Sahin, BVB have largely impressed since opening up the 2024/25 campaign. Marking their return from September’s international break with an action-packed performance as they secured a 4-2 victory against Bundesliga high-flyers Heidenheim, Wednesday’s guests will be hoping to lay down an early marker on foreign soil. Getting proceedings underway with a 2-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt on August 24th, they will also be excited by their most recent showdowns against Club Brugge. Winning their back-to-back group stage battles in November 2020 by an aggregate score of 6-0, Dortmund will be hoping for a repeat display here.
Team News
While German international defender Nico Schlotterbeck might have missed out against Heidenheim over the weekend after serving a one-match suspension, the 24-year-old should make a full return here. However, dealing with a recent groin injury, former Nottingham Forest loanee Giovanni Reyna is not expected to feature here.
Opening his Bundesliga account with a brace on Saturday afternoon, Karim Adeyemi will play a leading role in the final third. Making a first BVB start of the season after arriving from Stuttgart during the summer transfer window, Serhou Guirassy will be hoping to keep his spot leading Sahin’s charge.
Key Factors to Consider
When Club Brugge and Borussia Dortmund met during the Champions League group stage back in November 2020, BVB won their back-to-back showdowns by an aggregate score of 6-0. Dortmund have scored 10 goals in their first four competitive appearances across all competitions so far this season. Club Brugge have won all of their previous four Pro League appearances by an aggregate score of 9-2. Including a real romp while away with Germany’s U21s during September’s international break, Karim Adeyemi has scored seven goals in his last three appearances for club and country. Seven of the nine historic battles between Club Brugge and Borussia Dortmund have finished with over 2.5 goals.Conclusion
Winning their back-to-back group stages meetings back in November 2020 by a 3-0 scoreline, Borussia Dortmund will be desperately seeking a repeat performance here. However, while Sahin’s free-scoring squad might be pencilled in as a standout contender on Wednesday night, they do meet a Club Brugge squad that have turned a recent corner. With the midweek hosts winning all of their last four Pro League appearances by an aggregate score of 9-2, we could be treated to an enjoyable Champions League opener.
Verdict: Goal to be scored in both halves
Best Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: Olympusbet