Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Borussia Dortmund
Match Time & Date:
13/03/2024
21:00
Prediction: 2-1
PSV
Expect an electrifying atmosphere at Signal Iduna Park as Borussia Dortmund and PSV lock horns in the Champions League last 16, return leg. The two sides played out a 1-1 draw at Philips Stadion, but Edin Terzic’s troops are seen as favourites to win Wednesday’s clash. Mats Hummels returns to the starting XI after the veteran was rested in a 2-1 win over Werder Bremen, while fellow defender Nico Schlotterbeck serves a one-game ban.
Peter Bosz’s men, on the other hand, head into the match following a hard-fought 1-0 win over Go Ahead Eagles. Pacey winger Johan Bakayoko is widely expected to return to the starting XI, while both Noah Lang and Ismael Saibari remain in the recovery room. Andre Ramalho is back from the Eredivisie ban. Anyhow, home win should be considered as Borussia Dortmund are a more experienced side than PSV, speaking of the participation in the elite competition.
Highlighted Player (Marco Reus):
Marco Reus is a German football player who was born on 31 May, 1989. The pacey attacking midfielder, who is capable of playing as a winger as well, started his senior career at Rot Weiss Ahlen and it has to be noted that he made 43 league appearances for the club in lower leagues.
In 2009 he signed a four-year contract with Borussia M’gladbach and he scored his first Bundesliga goal against Mainz on 28 August, 2009. After impressing with the Fohlen in the 2011/2012 Bundesliga campaign, he joined Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season. He has been playing for the Millionaires ever since and he represents Germany on the international stage as well.
However, he was more than unfortunate to miss the 2014 FIFA World Cup with injury when Joachim Low’s team lifted the prestigious trophy. To make things even worse for Marco Reus, he was forced to withdraw from the Germany Euro 2016 squad as well (injury). The German ace has a contract with Borussia Dortmund which expires on 30 June, 2019.
Highlighted Team (PSV):
Based in Eindhoven, Netherlands, PSV is a professional football club competing the top flight of the Dutch football, Eredivisie. PSV play their home games at the Phillips Stadium which can accommodate 35,000 people. Over the course of its 100-year-old history, PSV has become one of the country’s Big Three clubs that has dominated Eredivisie along with Ajax and Feyenoord.
Known as a stepping stone for future world-class stars, PSV propelled the likes of Ruud Gullit, Ronald Koeman, Romario, Ronaldo, Ruud van Nistelrooy and most recently Arjen Robben. The Boeren (Peasants) as they call themselves take pride in Eindhoven’s status of being a provincial city and never hide their Brabantian heritage which allow them to enjoy their uniqueness in the company of more prominent clubs from Dutch big cities.
The Peasants boast 23 domestic league titles and 9 KNVB Cup trophies. They have also managed two major European titles – European Cup in 1987-88 and UEFA Cup in 1977-78.
