Prediction: Borussia Dortmund vs PSV Eindhoven

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 11/4

Bookmaker: ZetBet

The upcoming second leg clash between Borussia Dortmund and PSV Eindhoven at the Signal Iduna Park holds obvious significance as the teams vie for a spot in the Champions League quarterfinals. The tie is evenly balanced following a 1-1 draw in the first leg held in the Netherlands three weeks ago.

In the initial encounter, Donyell Malen, formerly of PSV, scored an early goal for Dortmund, only to see it cancelled out by Luuk de Jong’s second-half penalty for PSV.

Borussia Dortmund

After their draw with PSV in the first leg, Borussia Dortmund endured a setback in the Bundesliga with a 3-2 defeat to Hoffenheim at home. However, they quickly recovered, securing consecutive away wins against Union Berlin and Werder Bremen.

In the victory over Bremen, Dortmund battled with 10 men after Marcel Sabitzer’s dismissal just before halftime. Despite the setback, they managed to hold on to a 2-1 win, with goals from Malen and Jadon Sancho, and the victory helped them maintain their fourth position in the Bundesliga table.

Now, Edin Terzic and his men shift their focus to the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against PSV. Despite some inconsistency in their home form recently, Dortmund have remained unbeaten in their last eight Champions League home matches. This solid record provides them with confidence as they aim to secure a spot in the next round.

Team News

With Sebastien Haller and Samuel Bamba still sidelined due to injury, Dortmund’s attacking options may be slightly limited. Felix Nmecha, who recently recovered from a hip injury, will be eager to start and could potentially replace Marcel Sabitzer or Emre Can in midfield.

In defense, Mats Hummels may come in to partner Nico Schlotterbeck in central defense, potentially replacing Niklas Sule. Up front, Karim Adeyemi and Marco Reus will compete with Jadon Sancho and Julian Brandt for starting spots alongside Donyell Malen, who scored in the first leg and made history as the first Dutch player to score against a Dutch team in the Champions League knockout stages.

PSV Eindhoven

PSV Eindhoven have been in good form in the Eredivisie, collecting seven points from their last three league matches. They secured a convincing 7-1 victory against PEC Zwolle, followed by a 2-2 draw at home against Feyenoord and a narrow 1-0 win away against Go Ahead Eagles.

Their most recent victory saw Sergino Dest scoring the only goal in the 10th minute, maintaining PSV’s unbeaten league run and their 10-point lead at the top of the Eredivisie table.

Despite their domestic success, Petar Bosz’s team faces a tough challenge in Dortmund, especially considering their poor record in Germany. They have failed to win any of their last 16 visits to this country, losing 13 times. Additionally, they have lost five of their last six Champions League matches in Germany.

However, PSV managed to secure a 1-1 draw in their only previous visit to Dortmund in October 2002. With their recent good form and a strong away record in the Eredivisie, the Dutch side will be hopeful of causing an upset and advancing to the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time since 2006/07.

Team News

Noa Lang’s absence due to a hamstring injury poses a significant setback for PSV Eindhoven, while Joey Veerman and Ismael Saibari are both doubtful for the upcoming match against Dortmund due to muscle injuries. Their availability will be assessed closer to kickoff.

In midfield, Guus Til, Mauro Junior, and Malik Tillman are potential options to partner Jerdy Schouten if Veerman and Saibari are unable to play. However, Johan Bakayoko, who was rested in the previous match, could also feature in the midfield or as part of the attacking trio alongside Hirving Lozano and top scorer Luuk de Jong.

Conclusion

This game is expected to be another closely-fought encounter between Dortmund and PSV, with both teams confident in their abilities to progress to the quarterfinals. While PSV may be considered slight underdogs heading into the match, they have the potential to push Dortmund all the way and possibly even extend the contest beyond the 90 minutes.

However, with the support of their home crowd at their home ground, Dortmund are favored to come out on top at the end of it all, whether through extra time, or a penalty shootout.

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 11/4

Bookmaker: ZetBet