Champions League high-scorers Borussia Dortmund set on a short trip to Denmark’s capital to face local champions Copenhagen, who remain winless in the competition but can feel confident after stopping Bayer Leverkusen at the Parken Stadium in the opening round.
The mini-crisis at Copenhagen continued over the weekend, as the Lions lost 3-1 to a team from the relegation zone in the Danish Superliga. This was their third consecutive winless game in all competitions, and the better days may have to wait a bit more, as they will face their biggest test to date.
Borussia Dortmund are no longer undefeated in the new campaign, but that’s what usually happens when you travel to the Allianz Arena and meet the current Bayern Munich. BVB had a horrendous first half but showed more of their usual level after the break, although it was far from enough. We genuinely expect Dortmund to give it all against Copenhagen and try to bounce back with an absolute victory.
How the bookies view it: BVB will bounce back
While bookmakers back Borussia Dortmund to win on Tuesday, the odds are not that contrasting and we find great value. The gap could have been far more significant, but you can pick Copenhagen at 3/1 and Borussia at 17/20. And if you decide to back the draw, you can expect around 13/5.
Recent head-to-head: Dortmund are undefeated in four
Copenhagen and Borussia Dortmund have had some dealings in the past, with clashes in both the Champions League and the Europa League. Most recently, they met during the group stage of the CL in 2022/23, when BVB won 3-0 at home and failed in Denmark (1-1). But overall, Borussia Dortmund remain undefeated against this opponent across four meetings.
Players to watch: They won't handle Guirassy
It may seem like Serhou Guirassy has slowed down a bit, but perhaps he raised the standards so high that we have extreme expectations. But he actually already has six goals and three assists across nine appearances this season.
His performance against Bayern Munich was mediocre and he was shut down completely, only managing one shot off target in 84 minutes. But facing Bayern’s CBs Upamecano and Tah is one thing, and facing Copenhagen’s Hatzidiakos and Pereira will be a far simpler task. We expect Guirassy to lead BVB and provide a highlight or two on Tuesday.
Probable line-ups
Copenhagen: Kotarski, Lopez, Hatzidiakos, Pereira, Garan’anga, Clem, Madsen, Lerager, Silva, Claesson, Achouri
Borussia Dortmund: Kobel, Ryerson, Schlotterbeck, Sule, Couto, Nmecha, Sabitzer, Svensson, Adeyemi, Brandt, Guirassy
Anything else catch the eye?
Having netted four times in each of their first two Champions League fixtures this season, Borussia Dortmund are the highest-scoring side in the competition. And Copenhagen seem like the perfect target for another strong showing, as the Lions haven’t won in three in a row while conceding six goals in the process.
At the same time, Borussia have not kept a clean sheet in six consecutive Champions League fixtures, so there is some value in the BTTS market. But overall, we plan to back the German side or go for Over 1.5 Dortmund goals, as the odds are still surprisingly high.
GambleAware