Dortmund Face Lille Test in Champions League Last-16 Decider

Posted : 11 March 2025

Borussia Dortmund travel to France for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Lille with plenty to prove after a 1-1 draw in the first leg. Karim Adeyemi had put the German side ahead at home, but Hakon Haraldsson's equalizer left the tie finely balanced ahead of the clash at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

While Dortmund remain hopeful in Europe, their domestic struggles continue, with a 1-0 home defeat to Augsburg at the weekend leaving them in 10th place in the Bundesliga, seven points off the top four. The team had shown some promise under new coach Niko Kovac, who took over in January, but inconsistent league form has dampened momentum.

Lille, on the other hand, have been formidable at home this season and have already secured impressive wins over Real Madrid and Feyenoord in the group stage. The French side is eyeing its first-ever Champions League quarterfinal appearance and will be confident given their strong home form, having lost only twice in 20 games in front of their fans.

Dortmund, meanwhile, face the pressure of avoiding an early exit after last season’s run to the final, where they were beaten by Real Madrid. Coach Kovac remains optimistic, pointing to his team's performances in recent Bundesliga matches and the first leg against Lille as reasons for hope.

Dortmund will have to cope without Swedish full-back Daniel Svensson, who suffered an injury in the first leg, while striker Serhou Guirassy is expected to play a key role after scoring 10 Champions League goals this season. Lille’s Haraldsson believes his side now has the upper hand, given their home advantage and Dortmund’s struggles away from home.

However, the French club has historically fallen short at this stage of the competition, having been eliminated in the last 16 by Manchester United in 2007 and Chelsea in 2022. This match could go to extra time or even penalties, a scenario Lille is familiar with after their Europa Conference League exit to Aston Villa last season.

The stakes are high for both teams, with the winner set to face either Barcelona or Benfica in the quarterfinals. For Dortmund, progression would keep their European hopes alive in an otherwise disappointing season, while Lille aim to make history with a breakthrough in the competition. With both sides evenly matched, the second leg promises to be an intense battle as they vie for a place among Europe’s elite eight.

Dortmund Face Lille Test in Champions League Last-16 Decider

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