Galatasaray vs. Dortmund: Key Issues That Will Shape Champions League Game
Borussia Dortmund will turn their attentions back to the Champions League this week with high hopes of curing their ills with a win over Turkish side, Galatasaray.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are in the midst of a contentious period, with their worst start to a league season in 27 years, and are in desperate need of some well-earned points regardless of the competition.
Despite all this, the Bundesliga side are actually in a wonderful position and could move up to nine points with a win on Wednesday. A situation that Cesare Prandelli’s side, currently on just one point, would thoroughly enjoy being in.
Here are the key issues ahead of this Euro clash.
Ilkay Gundogan's Fitness
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One of the most notable inclusions in Wednesday night’s clash will be that of returning star Ilkay Gundogan. He looks set to start in midfield in his first Champions League game of the season and only his second match of the calendar year.
The German international looked like his old self against Cologne, despite his side’s 2-1 defeat, but he was notably jaded as the game dragged on.
Unfortunately, despite the player’s precarious fitness, Klopp may have little choice but to continue pushing Gundogan in the first team. We’ll just have to wait and see whether he’s fit enough.
Now or Never for Galatasaray
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However poor Dortmund’s form may be this season, when it comes to the Champions League, the real team in trouble in this group is most certainly Galatasaray.
Initially tipped as a strong contender for a second place, third at the very least, the Turkish side have found themselves approaching the halfway point in the group stages with just a solitary point.
If Dortmund takes six points from the next two games, Prandelli’s side will have to travel to Belgium and take three points at Anderlecht. A prospect that the Italian coach will certainly hope to avoid.
Dortmund's Defence
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This may well be the most notable or somewhat obvious factor to consider before such a match, but we simply have to continue discussing Dortmund’s horrendous defending this season.
If not for the simple fact that the porous back line continues dropping points for their side, we should consider just how different they’ve been in Europe.
Despite conceding 14 goals in just eight Bundesliga games, Klopp’s side have managed to keep a clean sheet against Arsenal and a very resilient Anderlecht side.
It’s all very Jekyll and Hyde at the back for Dortmund at the minute. But just which one will show up on Wednesday night?
Klopp Can't Let His Side Get Complacent. Again
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Dortmund are comfortable in the Champions League. That may seem like an odd thing to say considering their current crisis, but with six points from their first two games they should be fine with just three more from their next three matches.
Yet this poses its own problems. Klopp’s side have seen their league form deteriorate through individual mistakes but also from a general lack of concentration and complacency throughout the team.
The charismatic manager will have to make sure such this ethos doesn’t begin to creep into their European campaign or else risk failure on both fronts.
Cesare Prandelli Must Transfer League Form to Europe
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Ironically, we seem to find Galatasaray in a completely different situation, having enjoyed a strong start to their domestic season and hopeful of using that form to turn around their European campaign.
In their opening six games in the Turkish top division, Prandelli’s side have lost just one game and picked up four wins. Including an important 2-1 win over rivals Fenerbahce.
If they have any hope of making their mark in Europe’s premier competition, they’ll need to dig deep and find some of that domestic form.
