Champions League: Can Dortmund Deal Knockout Blow to Sampaoli’s Sevilla?

Borussia Dortmund vs Sevilla

Borussia Dortmund are on the brink of returning to the Champions League knockout round after missing out last season.

The Germans are second to Manchester City in Group G with six points, and if results go their way, they could book their spot with two group games to spare.

Conversely, defeat would all but end Sevilla’s hopes of making it to the next round. Their 4-1 drubbing against Dortmund at home last time out spelt the end of Julen Lopetegui’s spell at Sevilla.

Jorge Sampaoli is now in charge of the Rojiblancos, and his side will look to defy the Champions League 2022 betting odds and beat BVB in Dortmund.

Talking Points

Dortmund returning to the right direction

After a rough stretch of three defeats in four, Borussia Dortmund are back to picking up some good results. Following their 4-1 smashing of Sevilla at the Sanchez Pizjuan, they battled back from two goals down to hold rivals Bayern Munich to a 2-2 draw in Der Klassiker.

With captain Marco Reus sidelined, several different players are stepping up. Teenage sensation Jude Bellingham wore the captain’s armband against Sevilla and starred as he provided a goal and an assist. The 19-year-old English midfielder has already produced plenty of Champions League 2022 highlights, with three goals and an assist in three games.

Meanwhile, fellow teen wunderkind Youssoufa Moukoko is also delivering the goods. After scoring the winning goal in the Revierderby, the 17-year-old striker has provided a goal and an assist in the last two games, both starts.

Moukoko has taken the starting spot of Anthony Modeste, who has had a trying start at Dortmund. However, the 34-year-old finally made his mark with a terrific performance against Bayern as he set up Moukoko for BVB’s first goal, then scored the dramatic stoppage-time equaliser.

Head coach Edin Terzic is expected to rotate his side as the fixtures continue to come thick and fast, so Modeste could be handed another chance to start in midweek.

Sampaoli hoping to start Sevilla revival

Sevilla’s humiliating 4-1 defeat at home to Dortmund was the last straw for the club’s board as they sacked head coach Julen Lopetegui shortly thereafter.

Lopetegui’s departure should come as no surprise given his side’s disastrous form this season. Sevilla have won just once in eight games and are down in 17^th, one point and one spot out of the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, they have picked up just one point in three Champions League games and have suffered heavy home defeats to the top two, Man City and Dortmund.

Jorge Sampaoli has been handed the reins as he returns for his second stint at Sevilla. The 62-year-old Argentine spent 11 months in Sevilla from 2016 to 2017, amassing a record of 27 wins, 12 draws, and 14 losses in 53 games.

Sampaoli began his second Sevilla spell with a 1-1 draw against high-flying Athletic Bilbao. His side took an early lead through Kasper Dolberg as Sevilla started out playing with the trademark intensity of a Sampaoli team.

But that intensity gradually wore off as they were significantly outshot 21-10 at home and eventually conceded an equaliser on 73 minutes.

Nevertheless, expect Sevilla to continue playing with that sort of energy and intensity when they travel to Dortmund.

History

This will be the fourth meeting between Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla in the Champions League. Dortmund are still undefeated, with two wins and a draw. Although, they have yet to beat Sevilla in two games at Signal Iduna Park (one win, one draw).

Sevilla have now won in their previous four away trips against German opposition in European competition (three draws, one loss).

Betting Tip 

SBOTOP odds have Borussia Dortmund installed as significant 1.57 favourites to do the double over Sevilla, who are priced at 5.60 to pull off a shock at Signal Iduna Park. A draw is 3.95.

Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League fixtures have been relatively high-scoring affairs, with three or more goals in all three games. And I expect this match at Signal Iduna Park to be the same.

Sevilla, with little hope of qualifying for the knockouts, will go down swinging under Sampaoli, whose aggressive style could leave some gaps at the back at Dortmund’s attackers could exploit en route to another potential goal fest.

 

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.