The Stats Zone
February 9 2023, 20:42 · Alex Lawes

2022-23 UEFA Champions League knockout stage team preview: Borussia Dortmund

2022-23 UEFA Champions League knockout stage team preview: Borussia Dortmund

IN BRIEF

Manager: Edin Terzic

Group stage performance: 2nd (WLWDDD - vs Copenhagen, Manchester City, Sevilla)

UEFA Champions Leagues/European Cups: 1 (1996/97)

Last season’s performance: Groups

SO FAR…

Borussia Dortmund were knocked out in the group stages of the 2021/22 campaign and only just made it through this season’s competition due to the incompetence of Sevilla and weakness of Copenhagen. The Black and Yellows managed just two wins in their six group stage matches.

Dortmund have earned a recent reputation for being immensely frustrating and naïve with performances ranging from best in Europe to relegation fodder in the Bundesliga.

Their underwhelming and distinctly unimpressive group stage performance a few months ago means that they have won just five of their last 17 matches in European competition, including a UEFA Europa League knockout playoff defeat to eventual finalists Rangers last season, after their UEFA Champions League group stage elimination. Those five wins have come against Besiktas twice, Sporting, Sevilla and Copenhagen.

WHAT ARE BORUSSIA DORTMUND’S CHANCES IN THE KNOCKOUT STAGES?

They have returned from the FIFA World Cup and winter break with a hint of pragmatism that might lead to them being taken more seriously. Their first game back, after a winter in which Edin Terzic spoke of a desire to return to Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund’s style of play, was very much not the ‘pragmatic approach’ that has since been discussed.

They came out on top in a topsy-turvy game against struggling Augsburg, eventually winning 4-3 at home. They then earned back-to-back impressive away wins at Mainz and then at Xabi Alonso’s in-form Bayer Leverkusen. Dortmund have an immense amount of talent but have lacked a maturity in recent seasons.

In the second-half of the campaign, they have been able to welcome back Sebastian Haller, following the 28 year-old’s battle with prostate cancer and it wouldn’t be a stretch to suggest they have one of, if not the, best young midfielders in the world in Jude Bellingham. It was a busy summer transfer window for the club, with the likes of Niklas Sule and Nico Schlotterbeck arriving to sure up the defence, and that was with a genuine tilt at the Bundesliga title in mind.

They have been drawn against Chelsea in what is a difficult to call tie between two sides that have major flaws and have shown signs of wild inconsistencies throughout the 2022/23 campaign. It could have been easier but it could have been a much harder draw and Terzic’s side will not be displeased with their Last 16 opponents.

ODDS TO WIN THE 2022-23 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 55/1

Odds used are the best at Oddschecker at the time of writing