Borussia Dortmund will need nothing short of a minor miracle in order to overtake Tottenham Hotspur and advance to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday night. BVB come into the home leg of their UCL round of 16 tie down 3-0 to Tottenham Hotspur. And having scored no away goals from the first leg, Dortmund will also be at a severe disadvantage in regards to any potential tie-breaker.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino can rotate his squad in midweek if he sees fit and still easily cruise through to the Champions League elite 8. Let’s take a look at the current fitness situation for both sides, starting with the hosts.
Christian Pulisic did not play in Dortmund’s defeat at Augsburg, due to a thigh injury, but the American international is back in training now and may be available to feature here. The winger, nicknamed “Wonder Boy,” will ply his trade with Chelsea next season, so this is an opportunity to get better acquainted with the Blues-Spurs rivalry.
Team captain Marco Reus also missed the first leg, also due to a thigh issue, but he’s fit for selection now after having played 66 minutes in Bundesliga action at Augsburg.
Finally, Lukasz Piszczek remains a long term absentee due to a heel problem.
Shifting to the visitors, Dele Alli is in the late stages of his recovery from a hamstring injury, but this match will come too soon for the midfielder to feature. Eric Dier is recovering from a recent bout with tonsillitis, but is still a doubt for this one.
Harry Winks is also doubtful due to a hip problem.
Tottenham Hotspur at Borussia Dortmund UCL Round of 16 (3-0 aggregate) FYIs
Tottenham Hotspur Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Kickoff: Tuesday, March 5, 8pm, Westfalenstadion
Odds (90 minutes only) via Betfair: Tottenham 13/10, Draw 5/2, Dortmund 19/10
Odds to qualify (including extra-time and penalties): Dortmund 9/1, Tottenham 1/50
Google Result Probability (90 minutes only): Dortmund 48%, Tottenham win 26%, Draw 26%
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.