Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
Updated
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German giants Borussia Dortmund have a strong team and have been strong in this competition, too, as they face the Yellow Submarine of Villarreal this midweek.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+
Borussia Dortmund preview: Kovac’s Dortmund
Ever since the appointment of Niko Kovac, Borussia Dortmund have been much-improved and entertaining to watch, with their entertainment shown again at the weekend as they shared a thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Stuttgart.
They had collected seven points from their opening three league phase matches in the UEFA Champions League before the Yellow and Blacks suffered a 4-1 hammering at the hands of Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium a few weeks ago.
Villarreal preview: Potential title challengers in Spain
Much like Kovac at Dortmund, Villarreal have also been transformed and much-improved since the appointment of Marcelino, with the Yellow Submarine perhaps even involved in the title race in La Liga.
They most recently managed to edge past an improving and sturdy Real Mallorca side at El Madrigal at the weekend, courtesy of strikes from club captain Gerard Moreno and summer signing Tani Oluwaseyi.
Borussia Dortmund team news: No Sule
Germany international centre-back Niklas Sule is now unavailable due to a back injury for the hosts, whilst Algeria's Ramy Bensebaini is a huge doubt.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Kobel; Anton, Schlotterbeck, Can; Couto, Nmecha, Sabitzer, Svensson; Adeyemi, Guirassy, Chukwuemaka
Unavailable: Sule (Injured)
Questionable: Bensebaini (Injured), Beier (Injured)
Villarreal team news: Kambwala out
Former Manchester United man Willy Kambwala is the only Villarreal player confirmed is missing here for the visitors.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Junior; Mourino, Foyth, Veiga, Cardona; Pepe, Parejo, Gueye, Moleiro; Ayoze, Mikautadze
Unavailable: Kambwala (Injured)
Questionable:
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal prediction
In their opening three games of this season’s league phase, Borussia Dortmund scored four goals in all three games. They have, though, remained susceptible at the back, as shown in the Bundesliga. With four games to go, Villarreal remain in a good spot to get a top 24 place but a defeat to Pafos last time out did suggest a focus on domestic matters and so siding with Dortmund, in a fun watch for the neutral, may well be the way to go for this one at the Westfalenstadion.
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal Tip: Borussia Dortmund to win & both teams to score
