Borussia Dortmund vs. Tottenham: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV

The Europa League has handed Tottenham their toughest assignment of the season so far. Travelling to face Borussia Dortmund in Germany is never easy, and Spurs must perform at their best if they are to keep their European campaign alive. 

According to Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe, Dortmund were the only superior opposition Tottenham could have drawn at this stage:  

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European Club Power Rankings
FC Barcelona still No.1.
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This should be a top-class affair, and judging by the domestic performances of both clubs this season, it could be repeated in the Champions League next year. 

Dortmund have the pace to crucify teams on the counter-attack and the quality to play through their opposition. 

Gerard Brand of Sky Sports explained how Dortmund have evolved under first-year manager Thomas Tuchel:

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Tuchel has Dortmund pressing at every opportunity still, but with the aim of stabilising the game rather than being the focal point of attack a la Klopp. They run less, pass far more, and use the wide channels as an attacking outlet rather than stifling the central areas.

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Clearly this will be a clash of two similarly styled sides.

Form Lines 

Dortmund

Dortmund 0-0 Bayern

Darmstadt 0-2 Dortmund

Dortmund 3-1 Hoffenheim

Porto 0-1 Dortmund

Leverkusen 0-1 Dortmund

Spurs

Spurs 2-2 Arsenal

West Ham 1-0 Spurs

Spurs 2-1 Swansea 

Spurs 3-0 Fiorentina

Spurs 0-1 Crystal Palace

Team News

Tottenham have opted to travel to Germany without both Danny Rose and Eric Dier while Dele Alli is absent through suspension. All three are among Spurs' strongest lineup, so Mauricio Pochettino will be without some of his key weapons in the dangerous environment of the Westfalenstadion. 

Dortmund are at virtually full-strength with only Sokratis Papastathopoulos unable to take his place, according to the club's website.

Predicted Lineups 

IAN KINGTON/Getty Images

Dortmund

Goalkeeper: Weidenfeller

Defence: Piszczek, Bender, Hummels, Schmelzer

Midfield: Weigl, Gundogan, Sahin

Attack: Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang, Reus

Spurs

Goalkeeper: Lloris

Defence: Trippier, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Davies

Midfield: Dembele, Bentaleb

Attack: Son, Mason, Eriksen, Chadli

Player to Watch

Dortmund possess a host of stars, something Pochettino acknowledged in his pre-match press conference. He hailed the talent at their disposal, saying their stars "could stay here in Dortmund or play for Real Madrid or Barcelona."

With that in mind, selecting just one Dortmund star to watch is a challenge.

Goal machine Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and superstar Marco Reus present unique threats, but the multifaceted Henrikh Mkhitaryan is the key man. 

With nine goals and 11 assists this season, when the Armenian shines, Dortmund dominate. 

Spurs must endeavour to keep him closely covered or risk a European embarrassment. 

The key man for the visitors is Heung-Min Son. 

The big-money summer signing has been a qualified success in his first Tottenham season, but he has been arguably their best player in Europe. 

Four goals and eight assists in seven starts (nine appearances) is an excellent return and, in likely absence of Harry Kane, he'll need to be at his best. 

Not only does Son seem to be more comfortable in Europe, but he is also facing an opposition against whom he has previously enjoyed great success. 

Clive Rose/Getty Images

He scored five goals against Dortmund during his Bundesliga career and will be hoping to improve upon that record with a hugely valuable away goal.

Key Battle

This tie pits two of Europe's most aggressive and energetic pressing teams against each other. 

Spurs faced a similar opposition in the last round when they beat Fiorentina 4-1 on aggregate. 

Both Tottenham and Dortmund took part in massive domestic fixtures last weekend against Arsenal and Bayern Munich, respectively. 

The energy expended in those matches could prove crucial here if fatigue bites. 

PATRIK STOLLARZ/Getty Images

Whichever team is able to control the pace, and bring their deep-lying midfielders to bear, will have a decisive advantage.

Live Stream, TV Info

UK: BT Sport 2, 6 p.m.

USA: ESPN Desportes, 10 a.m.

Odds

Odds Shark has Tottenham as massive outsiders to beat Dortmund in the first leg, offering 5-1 for an away win, while the home side are happy favourites at 100-163. 

These are two of Europe's highest-scoring teams, so a value bet might be backing over 2.5 goals at 21-20.