Preview of the Champions League game: Dortmund hopes for a rare away win in Zagreb

Preview of the Champions League game: Dortmund hopes for a rare away win in Zagreb

This 2024-25 season, location doesn’t matter. From Madrid to Mainz, Borussia Dortmund have been nothing short of miserable away from their fortress home Westfalenstadion. Winless in the Bundesliga, eliminated in the cup and decimated by Real Madrid, Nuri Sahin’s men were powerless without the yellow wall behind them. Unfortunately, they will first have to try to overcome their away demons tomorrow in the Croatian capital against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League. As lukewarm as Dortmund’s start to the season has been, they have actually shown a touch of the brilliance that BVB fans have come to expect from their beloved club – but only at home.

While Dinamo won the Croatian league title last season, as is usual in the past, this was not the case this season. The all-time Croatian champions are not even second, but third, with a modest 7-4-3 record domestically by their standards. Their most notable moment of the season so far was when they were completely overwhelmed by FC Bayern Munich 9-2 in the first game week of the Champions League.

Player to Watch: Martin Baturina

Scotland – Croatia – UEFA Nations League 2024/25, League A, Group A1

Photo by Euan Cherry/Getty Images

Dinamo Zagreb has a history of producing top Croatian talent and there is one young player currently turning heads who is perhaps being a little optimistically and prematurely dubbed ‘the next Luka Modric’ by the transfer tabloids. Although he still has a long way to go before he can live up to that nickname, he is at least attracting interest from major clubs in Spain and England.

The comparison with Modric goes beyond his nationality. Baturina is the prime example of a highly skilled attacking midfielder. He is an exceptional chance creator with one goal and 5 assists in 804 league minutes. Watching him reminds me not only of his Croatian compatriot Modric, but also of BVB man Julian Brandt.

Expected lineup

As much as Dortmund could use a morale boost in the form of an away win, Nuri Sahin also has to expect that the classic will cast a shadow over him this weekend. He then has to balance that rotation while still missing several key players due to injury.

I would like Jamie Gittens to start against Bayern and because he played almost 80 minutes on Saturday, I wouldn’t mind leaving Julien Duranville in the starting XI against Dinamo. Serhou Guirassy missed the Freiburg game due to an infection and I suspect that Sahin will keep him out as a precaution just to ensure he is 100% fit against Bayern Munich, even though the Ruhr Nachrichten reports that he is healthy and trained with the team. I also substituted Pascal Groß for Marcel Sabitzer.

Outcome prediction

Can BVB finally get an away win?

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