Borussia Dortmund will welcome Paris Saint-Germain to Germany on Tuesday night for the first leg of their last-16 clash in the Champions League.
It will actually be just the third meeting between the two teams in history, with their two previous match-ups bringing draws during the group stage of the 2010-11 Champions League.
Match preview
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Dortmund picked up 10 points from their six Group F matches this season to finish second behind Barcelona. They lost to Tottenham Hotspur in this stage of the 2018-19 competition, though, and have not actually reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup since 2016-17, which is somewhat of a surprise considering their quality.
As mentioned, Dortmund and PSG have only locked horns on two previous occasions, and both matches finished level during the group stage of the 2010-11 competition. This is actually BVB's 14th Champions League campaign, and they famously made the final of the tournament in 2013.
BVB have only won four of their last 11 Champions League matches, though, and have recorded just five victories in their last 13 European fixtures on home soil.
It is certainly a tough ask to overcome the French champions over two legs, but Lucien Favre's side will enter this match off the back of an impressive 4-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the league on Friday night.
Jadon Sancho was again on the scoresheet for the German giants, while teenage striker Erling Braut Haaland has been in stunning form since arriving in January, scoring nine times in six appearances for his new club.
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While it would be fair to say that Dortmund have serious talent in the final third, PSG's attacking options are perhaps a level above with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar both present at the French club.
PSG were held to an incredible 4-4 draw by Amiens in Ligue 1 on Saturday, but they are 13 points clear at the top of their domestic table and closing in on a ninth league title.
The Champions League is the competition that the club really want to win, though, and they were very impressive in the group stages of this season's tournament, winning five of their six matches to top Group A by five points from Real Madrid.
Thomas Tuchel's side also have the best defensive record in the Champions League this season having conceded just twice, but they have been knocked out of the competition in the round of 16 in each of the last three seasons, having made the quarter-finals in the four previous campaigns.
Semi-finalists in 1995, PSG have won nine of their last 12 Champions League matches, and there is no question that the club's owners will be expecting to make a serious impression in this season's competition.
Dortmund Champions League form: DWLWLW
Dortmund form (all competitions): WWWLLW
PSG Champions League form: WWWWDW
PSG form (all competitions): WWWWWD
Team News
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Dortmund will be without the services of both Marco Reus and Thomas Delaney through injury, while an ankle problem is expected to rule Julian Brandt out of the contest.
Favre otherwise has a full squad to choose from, though, and the home side are expected to line up in a 3-4-3 formation, with Thorgan Hazard and Sancho in support of Haaland.
Dan-Axel Zagadou was preferred to Manuel Akanji on Friday, but the latter should return for this match, while Emre Can is expected to keep his spot in midfield alongside Axel Witsel.
As for PSG, Colin Dagba and Abdou Diallo are both unavailable through injury, but Neymar is expected to overcome a rib injury to start for the French champions on Tuesday.
Mbappe and Mauro Icardi are likely to feature as the front two, while Angel Di Maria should also start for Tuchel's side, who could like up in an attacking 4-4-2 formation.
Presnel Kimpembe is a doubt with a thigh problem, though, meaning that Marquinhos could line up alongside Thiago Silva at the heart of the away side's defence.
Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Burki; Piszczek, Akanji, Hummels; Hakimi, Can, Witsel, Guerreiro; Sancho, Haaland, Hazard
PSG possible starting lineup:
Navas; Meunier, Marquinhos, Silva, Bernat; Di Maria, Gueye, Verratti, Neymar; Icardi, Mbappe
We say: Dortmund 2-2 PSG
This should be a cracking game on Tuesday night. Both teams are stronger in the final third than at the back, which should create an open and entertaining contest. We are expecting goals in Germany and a 2-2 would leave the tie delicately poised ahead of the return match in Paris.
Matt Law
