With the teams coming back from the final international break of the year, and already well settled after one league game week, it is time for the top teams across Europe to continue their Uefa Champions League adventure, as they look to fight for promotion to the knock out stages of this prestigious competition. In this Champions League preview, we will cover Tottenham’s visit to Dortmund, as they will look to continue their strong European from, while Real Madrid will visit minnows from Cyprus APOEL in search of another three points to be sure of qualification the next stage.
DORTMUND vs. TOTTENHAM
Three-way: 1: Dortmund +129; X: +290 Draw; Tottenham +240 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -0.5: Dortmund +127; Tottenham -130
Total +3: Over +110; Under -110
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
It has been a strange turn of events for the DFB Pokal holders this season. After starting the season on an exciting note, with typical attacking intensity and a defensive resilience, it looked like they could be the forerunners for the Bundesliga title. However, after the October international break, they have appeared disjointed, with an uncharacteristic lack of cohesiveness creeping into their defensive positioning. This season is long from over, but nevertheless, Peter Bosz side will need to buckle up if they are to ensure the Bundesliga is within their grasp. Moreover, they have been considerably poor in the champion’s league, as they have failed to stamp their authority in the four games they have played so far.
After a positive first two months of the campaign, they have gone off the boil off late, putting in poor displays in the center of the park and the defense. So far in the Champions League, they have failed to win any of their four group stage matches. They have had two defeats against Spurs and Real Madrid, while drawing both their matches 1:1 against APOEL, which is hardly the result you would be expecting from a side of Dortmund’s quality. During this period, they have shipped in 8 goals, while scoring just 2, and keeping no clean sheets.
And in the league two, they have been struggling. Their last match was against 12th placed Stuttgart, and they lost 2:1 after making two schoolboy errors which gifted the goals to their opposition. Before this away clash, they were up against rivals Bayern Munich, who are on an upward trajectory since the appointment of fan favorite Jupp Heynckes as manager and lost 1:3 at home. All in all, they are currently on a 7 match winless streak. In turn, the usually passionate BVB crowd is also starting to lose its belief, something which might have a negative effect on the home performances of the team.
Star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is, unsurprisingly leading the scoring charts for his team with 15 goals in all competition, although the speedster was recently axed from the squad, and the reason stated by the club was ‘Disciplinary reasons’. While he was restored later, the fact that the Gabon based striker is often involved in controversy shows the other side of his otherwise brilliant game. Following him, is breakout star Max Philipp, dubbed as the new Marco Reus for similar playing styles and attacking brilliance. The young winger has 6 goals and 5 assists so far in the league, showing how integral he has been to BVB’s attack.
Yes, they have been on a disappointing run of form, but one has to feel for their incredibly tough luck with injuries. As many as 8 first team players are out with injuries. Star winger Reus had sadly been ruled out until March with an ACL tear in May, while Sebastian Rode has bone problems that are keeping him out for at least this year. Right backs Erik Drum and Lukasz Piszczek are out with Hip and Knee injuries until December, while new signings Alexander Isak and Omer Toprak are both out with knee problems. Defender Sokratis is also on the treatment table after fracturing his rib in training, although it is said to be a minor injury.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS
Just like their to-be midweek opponents, Tottenham has also shown recent signs of lack of concentration, as the usually compact, energetic and effective side have looked jaded at times, even though Star forward Harry Kane, along with other players are doing their bit to carry them towards the top of the table. Their recent results have seen them shift to 4th from second with Chelsea leapfrogging them in the race to keep up with Pep Guardiola’s ruthless Manchester City. With no international breaks between now and March, Pochettino will be hoping that he can get his team to their efficient best once again and get on some sort of winning run to climb up the table.
However, Spurs look like a totally different team in the Champions League, as they are yet to be defeated after four group games, and are almost guaranteed of a spot in the knock out rounds. They have been fantastic in their three wins out of four matches so far, while showing incredible grit and defensive resilience to hold off Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. In these four Champions League matches, they have scored 10 times, while conceding just thrice and keeping one clean sheet.
Their last two performances in the league are however a far cry from the usually dominant Spurs team that we have grown accustomed to now since last season. They played two London Derbies, and it’s safe to say that could have performed better. In the first of these against Crystal Palace at Wembley, their temporary home, they couldn’t kill off the game and had to cling on for a 1:0. After this, they were up against bitter rivals Arsenal in a heated North London Derby, where the Gunners comfortably defeated Spurs by 2:0 at the Emirates. These fixtures have shown that a bit of carelessness has crept in the Spurs defense, something that Pochettino will be looking to remove as quickly as possible.
As one would expect, it is their star forward Harry Kane who has been leading the way with goals for the North London based team. The English forward scored 13 goals in 15 appearances in all competitions, while also providing 3 assists, thus further establishing his value in the Spurs attack. His compatriot Dele Alli, has scored 7 goals in 14 appearances so far for the club this season.
Defensive giants Wanyama and Toby Alderweireld are both out for the foreseeable future with knee and thigh injuries respectively. Spurs fans are yet to see a glimpse of winger Erik Lamela this season as a hip injury makes sure he continues on the treatment table for at least another month.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND vs. TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS – Match Prediction:
On paper, this is a matchup that will make our mouths water, as two teams who have forged their reputation as energetic, attacking sides who play compact and exciting football. However, lately, both sides have suffered blips and have let a bit of carelessness creep into their defending.
Mauricio Pochettino is a coach who is more than able of creating a team that is extremely focused in situations like this, and they will be more than happy going into their clash as they will get a break from the league disappointment and have a chance to continue their impressive UEFA Champions League form.
That being said, Dortmund isn’t a team to be taken lightly, and like Spurs, they will be hell-bent on getting their record straight after the last defeats. Moreover, they will also be hoping to take revenge for the reverse fixture defeat. So, my prediction will be a close match, with Tottenham going for a draw or even taking all three points.
MY PICK: Tottenham Hotspurs DC X2 (-132)
APOEL vs. REAL MADRID
Three-way: 1: APOEL +1925; X: +800 Draw; 2: Real Madrid -400
Spread +2: APOEL +123; Real Madrid -120
Total +3.5: Over +100; Under -105
APOEL
Last year’s champions in the top division of Cyprus, surely the fans would have been very excited about the team going into the new season. However, one can say that their expectations have started to get more realistic now. 9 games into the season, and APOEL are currently 5th in the league, with 17 points, and are 9 points off the top. Although not an unrecoverable position, APOEL fans will vary that a title challenge will be very difficult now.
In the Champions League also, they haven’t fared much better, although it can hardly be termed as disappointing as after an impressive qualifying campaign, they were pitted up against European heavyweights Dortmund and Tottenham, while also having the current Champions League title-holder Real Madrid in the same group. However, they still managed to get two draws against Dortmund, which is now an easy task. In four matches of the group stage so far, they have lost, and drawn two, and stand a decent chance for qualifying to the Europa League knockout stages if they finish above Dortmund, who are level on points with them.
APOEL put in two very accomplished performances in their last two matches in the league, grabbing two comfortable wins. The first of these was a thumping home win against Pafos FC, where they won 4:0, which was followed by a trip to Omonia Nicosia, where they again grabbed a win by 1:3. Before these two matches, they were up against Dortmund in the Champions League, and they put in a good performance to draw 1:1, at the Westfalenstadion.
Their main forwards Mickael Pote and Igor De Camargo are showing that even at the ages of 33 and 34, they are very much up for the job, with 7 and 6 goals each so far in all competitions. Winger Ghayas Zahid is providing trickery from the flanks, which has resulted in 3 goals and 3 assists, making him a crucial component of the team, while playmaker Ebicilio has provided four assists for his teammates.
Luckily for the manager, they have no injury concerns as of now, which means that he will have a full-strength side to call upon for the crucial match against the reigning European Champions, at home.
REAL MADRID
Oh, where has it gone for Real Madrid this season? With two Super Cup wins against teams like Manchester United and Barcelona, it seemed like they will go on another run where they challenge for each and every trophy they can win. However, fast forward to November, and things aren’t looking as rosy as earlier for the League and UCL champions from Madrid. It looks like the departures of proven match winners like Alvaro Morata and James Rodriguez, along with the ever-dependable Pepe, has cost the Los Blancos heavily, as they now often look devoid of options when they are struggling in a match. Zinedine Zidane has enough ability in him to motivate his team to have an upturn in their form, but he will hope that Ronaldo and Co. can do it sooner rather than later, as they are already 10 points off the top spot, which is occupied by bitter rivals Barcelona.
The Champions League campaign has given mixed results for the Los Blancos. Out of the four matches they have played so far, their record has been 2-1-1, with all 5 points dropped against Spurs. Madrid has scored 8 goals in this period, while conceding 5. They have scored just one goal in each of their last two Champions League clashes, which were against a talented but less experienced Tottenham team, and Zidane will be hoping his team shows an upturn in performances and does not make any mess against minnows APOEL.
Their last match was a 0:0 stalemate against local rivals Atletico at the Wanda Metropolitano, in what was a very physical encounter, with captain Sergio Ramos ending the game with a bloodied nose. Before this match, they had a comparatively easy clash like Las Palmas, which they won 3:0 at home. However, they will be ruing their luck after the Atletico clash as that has left them far adrift of the title race.
Since the start of the competitive matches this season, the highest scoring player on the Real Madrid squad is unsurprisingly Cristiano Ronaldo, although he has scored just 8 goals in 14 games, which is somewhat underwhelming by his superhuman standards. Following him is the young winger Marco Asensio, who has scored 7 goals along with 2 assists. His compatriot Isco is also doing his bit from the midfield, as he has scored 5 goals and contributed with 4 assists, showing the massive improvement he has made since the start of last year.
The brilliant but fragile Gareth Bale continues another spell on the sidelines with a Tear in tAbductor’stor muscle, something that has also affected Keylor Navas, and it is highly unlikely that they will make the squad come Tuesday. Their Captain Ramos has also been pulled out of the squad after suffering a Nasal Fracture in the Madrid Derby.
APOEL vs. REAL MADRID – Match Prediction:
Even though Real Madrid is going through a tough patch, it will still be a tough task for APOEL to get a win out of this match, as the Los Blancos squad has enough firepower to see the Cyprus Champions out. APOEL may have moments in the game where they can make an impact but I still feel it won’t be a tough game for Real Madrid. Therefore, my prediction will be a convincing away win for Zidane’s men.
MY PICK: Real Madrid +2 AH (-120)
