Borussia Dortmund head to Madrid for Tuesday’s Champions League clash, a rematch of last season’s final, amid concerns about their current form and criticism directed at coach Nuri Sahin.Despite being expected to exit the competition early last season, Dortmund reached the final at Wembley in June, buoyed by a strong run of form. They controlled the match for over an hour but fell victim to Real Madrid’s classic counterattacking style, conceding twice in the last 20 minutes to suffer a 2-0 defeat.In the aftermath, Edin Terzic was dismissed following a disappointing fifth-place finish in the Bundesliga, leading to Nuri Sahin’s promotion from assistant to head coach. Sahin, a product of Dortmund’s youth system with playing experience at both Real Madrid and Liverpool, has taken charge of 10 matches across all competitions.• High-press triggers• Defending in a mid and low block• Dealing with a switch to 4-1-4-1In part one of Edin Terzić’s Masterclass, the former Borussia Dortmund manager discusses his out-of-possession approach vs PSG in last season’s Champions League semi final… 🇩🇪👏— Coaches’ Voice (@CoachesVoice) October 17, 2024 Now, Sahin faces his toughest challenge yet, as Dortmund continues to struggle with consistency and a lack of a defined tactical approach.Dortmund opened their season with a confident 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, only to suffer a heavy 5-1 loss to Stuttgart shortly after. They currently sit seventh in the Bundesliga standings but have been more successful in Europe, leading their Champions League group after wins over Club Brugge and Celtic.The team’s form has been notably contrasting between home and away games. At their Westfalenstadion, backed by 82,000 passionate supporters, Dortmund has won all five matches, netting 19 goals while allowing only six. But on the road, they have struggled, with just two wins in five matches — one against lower-tier Phoenix Luebeck and another against a mid-table Brugge side in the Belgian league.Real Madrid, in comparison, has maintained an unblemished record at home this season, winning seven out of seven games, scoring 19 goals and conceding just four.African power wins it for Dortmund!Dortmund will head to Madrid with a depleted attack, as injuries have sidelined key players like Karim Adeyemi, Julien Duranville, Giovanni Reyna, and offensive-minded defender Yan Couto. The team will rely heavily on the reliable Gregor Kobel in goal and the prolific form of striker Serhou Guirassy.Guirassy, a summer arrival from Stuttgart, has been a standout performer, scoring 12 goals in his last eight appearances for both club and country, missing the scoresheet only once.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Sahin’s history with Real Madrid includes a challenging spell after joining from a Dortmund team that had won the 2011 Bundesliga title under Jürgen Klopp. His time at Madrid saw him make only 10 appearances before he was loaned out to Liverpool and eventually back to Dortmund, where his move became permanent.Now as a coach, Sahin believes he has identified Dortmund’s main issues, pointing to defensive lapses and a lack of concentration. Despite a recent 2-1 victory over newly promoted St. Pauli, secured by a late Guirassy header, Sahin expressed frustration at his team’s defensive errors.“This is a recurring issue, and it’s simply not good enough,” Sahin emphasized. “We conceded a similar goal against Celtic, against Union Berlin, and now again. We must improve.”⚪️ Real Madrid undertook their first training session with a focus on the Champions League group stage match against Borussia Dortmund on Sunday ⚽️💪pic.twitter.com/FwwyUjyheX— BeSoccer (@besoccer_com) October 21, 2024 Kylian Mbappe, who wasn’t part of the Real Madrid squad in last season’s final against Dortmund, enters this match in strong form, scoring in five of his last six league games. While keeping Mbappe quiet will be a challenge, Dortmund has some experience managing the star forward, having faced him four times with Paris Saint-Germain last season, holding him to just one penalty goal during those encounters.The rematch between Dortmund and Real Madrid promises to be a pivotal test for both sides. Dortmund will look to overcome their recent struggles and find some stability, while Real Madrid will aim to continue their dominance at home.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – ROUND 3Tuesday19:45: (1.45) AC Milan (4.40) Club Brugge (7.25)19:45: (1.40) Monaco (5.30) Crvena Zvezda (8.00)22:00: (1.10) Arsenal (11.0) Shakhtar (18.0)22:00: (1.62) Aston Villa (3.80) Bologna (5.80)22:00: (1.20) Girona (8.00) Slovan B. (14.0)22:00: (1.87) Juventus (3.50) Stuttgart (4.20)22:00: (1.45) PSG (4.50) PSV (7.00)22:00: (1.50) Real Madrid (4.40) Dortmund (6.50)22:00: (8.00) Sturm (4.70) Sporting (1.40)Wednesday19:45: (1.45) Atalanta (4.50) Celtic (7.00)19:45: (6.25) Brest (4.70) Leverkusen (1.48)22:00: (1.53) Atl.Madrid (4.00) Lille (6.75)22:00: (2.40) Barcelona (3.60) Bayern (2.80)22:00: (1.62) Benfica (3.90) Feyenoord (5.60)22:00: (1.07) Man.City (13.0) Sparta Praha (25.0)22:00: (4.00) RB Leipzig (3.60) Liverpool (1.90)22:00: (1.75) Salzburg (3.60) Dinamo Zagreb (4.90)22:00: (8.00) Young Boys (4.70) Inter Milan (1.40)***odds are subject to change***
