Borussia Dortmund take on the visitors Lille in the first leg of UEFA Champions League round of 1/8-finals. The match will be played on Tuesday, March 4th at Signal Iduna Park (Dortmund).
Borussia Dortmund will try to save their season in europe again. Die Schwarzgelben already struggled in last season’s Bundesliga. The heartbreak of losing the title in 2023 at the final moment was tough, but missing out on a top-four spot to RB Leipzig was arguably even worse. Their saving grace was a run to the Champions League final, though they ultimately lost to Real Madrid. That summer saw both Edin Terzić depart as head coach and several key players leave the club. However, things did not improve, and by January, Nuri Şahin was dismissed following a dismal Europa League defeat to Bologna. Ironically, European competition had been their bright spot, as they still managed to qualify for the knockout rounds. Under new coach Niko Kovač, they made a statement with a dominant 3-0 away win over Sporting CP in Lisbon, comfortably sealing progression after a goalless draw at home. With their Bundesliga form still inconsistent, Borussia sees the Europa League as their best shot at salvaging the season.
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Lille finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season under Paulo Fonseca. However, losing out to the surprise package Brest in the race for third left a bittersweet feeling. To make matters trickier, they had to navigate Champions League qualification rounds in the summer. That challenge fell to Bruno Génésio, who replaced Fonseca after his move to Milan. The new boss successfully guided his side past Fenerbahçe and Slavia Prague, securing a group-stage berth. Once there, Lille impressed—winning five matches, including victories over both Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, and finishing with an impressive 16 points. That strong showing earned them a direct spot in the Round of 16, allowing them to re-enter the competition fresh and focused. Despite being considered underdogs, Lille has already shown they can compete with Europe’s elite this season.
The teams last met in the 2002 UEFA Cup, where both legs ended in draws—1-1 in Portugal and 0-0 in Germany. Borussia Dortmund progressed under the now-defunct away-goal rule. The German side might be stronger, but not by much. A smart bet would be on Lille +1.0 goals, expecting a tight contest.
Prediction for the match: Lille to win with +1.0 handicap.
