Having triumphed 3-2 in the first leg, Borussia Dortmund welcome Sevilla to Westfalenstadion in the return leg of their Last 16 tie in 2020-21 UEFA Champions League.
All Dortmund need to do is to avoid defeat by two or more goals and they will progress, whereas Sevilla must win by two clear goals to advance to the Quarter-Finals although three or more goals could be required if boils down to the away goals rule.
Team News
Jadon Sancho is ruled out for Borussia Dortmund after suffering a thigh injury which kept him out of Saturday’s Bundesliga defeat at Bayern Munich.
Axel Witsel (Achilles), Manuel Akanji, Raphael Guerreiro (both muscle) and Gio Reyna (knock) are ruled out.
Sevilla will be without Aleix Vidal due to a hamstring injury
Yassine Bounou (finger) and Lucas Ocampos (ankle) are doubts but Marcos Acuna (hamstring) remains absent.
Stat Attack
- Borussia Dortmund are yet to lose to Sevilla in all UEFA competitions (W2, D1).
- Sevilla won their only previous trip to Borussia Dortmund, prevailing 1-0 in September 2010 in Group J of 2010-11 Europa League (W1).
- Sevilla have avoided defeat in seven of ten previous trips to Germany (W5, D2, L3).
- Three of Dortmund’s six Champions League goals at home this season have come from Erling Haaland.
- Youssef En-Nesyri is the only Sevilla player to score more than once away from home in the Champions League this season.
Prediction
Defending often seems to be a common issue for Borussia Dortmund but they have improved that aspect since the first leg with clean sheets in three of their last four matches, although Sancho will certainly be a huge loss which makes that first goal key because if the hosts get it then this could be a fourth win in five and progress to the next stage.
Sevilla meanwhile are in a slump with one win in five but at 3-2 down, they simply have to come out and give it everything because if they score first, this tie could go either way even via the away goals rule but Dortmund do look difficult to beat at present.
I therefore am certainly not expecting a goalless draw but Sevilla need at least two or three goals in order to advance which seems a tough ask, so am plumping for a home win if they can continue recent progress.
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Sevilla
Result: Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Sevilla (Borussia Dortmund win 5-4 on aggregate!!)