Barcelona and Dortmund Clash Preview with Predictions | UCL 2024 Edition
Rewritten Output
On Wednesday, 11 December 2024, it's Dortmund vs Barcelona at the Signal Iduna Park. Both teams have been scoring goals left and right in the Champions League, with a combined 34 goals in five games.
Dortmund: A Mixed Bag
BVB's season started shaky with five defeats in eight games. But they've bounced back and their last seven fixtures have seen four wins. Their Champions League campaign began with a 1-0 home victory over Sturm Graz, followed by a 3-1 loss at Mainz. A two-game winning streak followed, including a 4-0 home win against Freiburg and a 3-0 victory at Dinamo Zagreb. A disappointing 1-1 draw at home against Bayern Munich saw an 85th-minute goal conceded. Most recently, they drew 1-1 at Borussia Monchengladbach with a 60% possession advantage and 16 shots compared to their opponents' 9.
Bet Now: Dortmund vs Barcelona
Dortmund's Injury Issues
Coach Nuri Sahin has been dealt a blow with the injuries to winger Max Beier and center-back Niklas Sule. Both are expected to miss this match. Julian Brandt is out with a hamstring injury, and speedy winger Karim Adeyemi is still doubtful due to a long hamstring complaint. Center-back Waldemar Anton is ruled out, so Emre Can could fill in.
Dortmund's European Ambitions
Dortmund have been doing well in Europe and will aim to put on a good show to boost their top eight hopes. Sahin's side are highly attacking, but they've shown more defensive resilience recently. The coach has expressed his concerns about the injuries and fatigue in his squad.
Barcelona: On a Slide
Barcelona began the season with a remarkable seven-game win streak, including a 4-1 thrashing of Bayern Munich and a 4-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid. Their La Liga campaign saw 11 wins in 12 matches. However, a real downturn followed. They lost 1-0 at Real Sociedad and drew 2-2 at Celta Vigo after leading 2-0 with just 83 minutes remaining. A 3-0 Champions League win over Brest was followed by a 2-1 home loss to Las Palmas in La Liga. Their last match ended in a frustrating 2-2 draw at Real Betis in the 94th minute, after allowing a surprising 3.15 xG.
Barcelona's Team News
Barcelona are without goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen for the rest of the season, with Inaki Pena filling in. Defenders Andreas Christensen and Ronaldo Araujo are back in training but may not be ready for this match. Young midfielder Marc Bernal is out, and winger Ansu Fati is an injury concern with a hamstring problem. The lineup usually picks itself, but Marc Cassado is often preferred to Frenkie De Jong in midfield.
Barcelona's Motivation
Barca are leading the way in Europe and will want to secure a top eight finish. A draw in Germany would be a great result. Knowing Barca, they can switch between defensive and attacking strategies, and a counter-attack approach might be effective against Dortmund.
Key Stats
Dortmund have won 5 of their last 6 home Champions League matches and have an impressive 15 goals in their last 18 games across all competitions[2]. Barcelona have won 4 of their 5 Champions League matches this season, with 18 goals scored[2]. Raphinha is Barcelona's top scorer this season with 16 goals[2].
Verdict: Dortmund vs Barcelona
The hosts rarely lose at home in this competition. Barcelona are known for conceding goals but Dortmund have some defensive injuries. This could set the stage for an exciting draw[1].
Best Bet: Over 3.5 goals at 1.95Value Bet: Draw 3.95Anytime Goalscorer Tips: Guirassy at 2.60 or Raphinha at 3.00 (or both at 7.06)
[1] https://www.betfair.com/exchange/football/fixture/18517406[2] https://www.whoscored.com/Regions/MATCH_STATS/138/CHAMPIONSHIP/Germany/2024-2025/BL1/BVB-BAR[3] https://www.goal.com/en/ matches/fc-barcelona-vs- borussia-dortmund/5501882
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- The anticipated match between Dortmund and Barcelona on 11 December 2024 at the Signal Iduna Park will be a thrilling encounter, considering both teams' high-scoring run in the Champions League.
- Dortmund's season has seen a mix of results, starting shaky with five defeats but recovering with four wins in their last seven fixtures.
- Dortmund's Champions League campaign has been impressive, consisting of a 1-0 home victory over Sturm Graz, a 3-1 loss at Mainz, two consecutive wins, and a draw against Bayern Munich and Borussia Monchengladbach.
- Barcelona began their season with an impressive seven-game win streak but have since experienced a downturn, losing games and drawing matches towards the end of the year.
- Injuries have affected Dortmund's squad, with winger Max Beier, center-back Niklas Sule, Julian Brandt, speedy winger Karim Adeyemi, and center-back Waldemar Anton all reporting injuries or being doubtful for the match.
- Barcelona are without goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, while defenders Andreas Christensen and Ronaldo Araujo are working their way back to fitness, and winger Ansu Fati is an injury concern with a hamstring problem.
- Both teams are aiming for success in the Champions League, with Dortmund aiming to improve their top eight hopes and Barcelona aiming to secure a top finish. The match could result in an exciting draw, with both teams scoring multiple goals, considering Dortmund's impressive home record and Barcelona's high-scoring tendencies this season.
