German champions Borussia Dortmund will make a trip to the Donbass Arena in Ukraine
tonight as they face a tricky tie against Ukrainian Shakhtar Donetsk. Dortmund’s
return to the knock-out phase of the Champions League marks the culmination of Juergen Klopp ‘s campaign started 3
years ago to bring Borussia back into the big league of European football.
After winning back to back Bundesliga titles
the last 2 years, they have made the step up in Europe after having failed to
qualify in the previous attempts.
Dortmund finished as Winners of
the dreaded Group of Death ahead of
the likes of Spanish champions Real
Madrid, English champions Manchester
City & Dutch champions Ajax.
That they were unbeaten en route to the knock-out phase was even more
remarkable as they were impressive both home and away in the most demanding
group of all. Filled with quality in all areas of the pitch, Dortmund play an attractive brand of
football with their attacking quartet of midfielders Mario Goetze, Marko Reus
& Jakub Błaszczykowski with
striker Robert Lewandowski causing
all sorts of problems to opposing defences. They have been backed up by their
excellent backline where Germany international Mat Hummels along with Neven Subotic, Tomas Pisczek & Marcel
Schmelzer have been rock solid and conceded just 5 goals in the Group games
against some of the finest opposition in the continent. Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan who anchors the
Dortmund midfield has not travelled to Ukraine while both Pisczek and Schmelzer
are set to face a late fitness test. Though struggling domestically, 15 points
behind leaders Bayern Munich,
Dortmund have been top notch in Europe and under the stewardship of Klopp look to be getting back to business
in the big league.
Shakhtar
Donetsk were one of the most impressive teams in
the group phase as they progressed from Group E as Runners-Up behind Juventus & ahead of Chelsea, the reigning European
champions. Their dazzling attacking
style influenced by a whole host of Brazilians in the squad caught the eye of
many and the 1st leg will witness a battle between 2 of the best
attacks of the tournament this year. Top scorer Willian, who netted 4 goals in group play and who was their
brightest star, has left the club though for richer pastures in a £30 million move to Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala. But even in his
absence, Shakhtar can boast the likes of Luiz
Adriano, who is their leading assister with 3, along with fellow Brazilians
Fernandinho, Alex Teixeira & new signing Taison , and led by the superb Darjo
Srna will prove to be quite a handful for Klopp’s Dortmund to deal with.
No comments:
Post a Comment