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— Stat attack
The teams will be out any minute but this is a pretty amazing stat while we wait.
— Big win for RB Leipzig
Group G looks like it could be a tight one so Leipzig’s comeback 2-1 win over Zenit St. Petersburg could be a big one. A stunning Marcel Sabitzer strike settled that one, which has just finished. The German side go top, for a couple of hours at least.
— Warm ups at the San Siro
The players are out on the pitch in Milan. The San Siro is one of football’s best known and biggest arenas and, as much as these Dortmund players are used to a big crowd, this will be a different type of test.
— Peek behind closed doors
Dortmund have tweeted a picture of their dressing room (or locker room for the Americans among us). It actually looks pretty tight in there considering how vast the San Siro is. I’m enjoying the black tape on yellow bin bag at the front there. Do Dortmund bring their own?
— Leipzig lead
If there’s a better goal than the one just scored by Marcel Sabitzer in the Champions League this season, I can’t wait to see it. The RB Leipzig man backtracked to control a deep cross on his chest on the left corner of the box, let it bounce and then finessed it with the outside of his right foot, sending it arcing over the keeper and in to the corner on the opposite side. An absolute peach and Leipzig have turned a halftime deficit in a 2-1 lead within 14 minutes of the restart.
— Will Löw swallow pride on Hummels?
By far the most experienced Champions League performer in that Dortmund lineup tonight is Mats Hummels. With Niklas Süle’s injury, there’s been plenty of talk of a return to the national team for the 30-year-old who was axed by Joachim Löw after the World Cup. Another strong display in a big away game tonight will do him no harm at all, though Löw is a stubborn man.
— Leipzig level
They took off their leading scorer at the break but RB Leipzig have equalized without Timo Werner. A smart angled finish from Konrad Laimer has made it 1-1 against Zenit St. Petersburg at the Red Bull Arena.
— Bringing Bürki back
The other notable thing in that lineup is that Roman Bürki is fit to start after having to come off during the win over Gladbach at the weekend. That’s a boost for the travelling side.
— No Götze, Sancho returns
There’s no place for Götze despite the absence of Alcacer as Favre opts for more of a 4-3-3, with Sancho, Hazard and Brandt up top and a solid looking trio of Witsel, Delaney and Weigl behind. I assume. A fairly wary looking XI. Elsewhere, Leipzig are behind at the break after a long range rocket from Yaroslav Rakitskiy.
— Striker dilemma
Despite the absence of Reus tonight, Favre has several options for the positions behind the striker, with Hazard, Brandt, Sancho and Bruun Larsen among those vying for a spot. But it’s replacing Alcacer that looks tricky. Götze, in his interpretation of the false nine, is the obvious option but it can leave BVB without a focal point. Not long until we find out now
Thorgan Hazard is among Dortmund’s attacking options
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— Favre sees tough task
With a trip to Barcelona still to come, Lucien Favre is aware a pair of decent results against Inter will go a long way. “It’s a very important match for my team. That’s why we need to be totally focused on our game,” the Swiss coach said in his pre match press conference.
But he’s done his homework too: “Everyone knows we’ll be up against a very, very good side. We watched several matches, we know this team. They’re very efficient and strong in defence.”
— Improving opponents
Inter may not be the force they were but under Antonio Conte this season, the Italian club have shown signs that they might be ready to compete at the top once again. They have won every game in Serie A this season with the exception of a defeat to serial champions Juventus just before the international break. Strikers Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez both bagged braces in a 4-3 win at Sassuolo on Sunday and will surely pose some awkward questions of Dortmund’s rickety defense this evening.
— Red Bulls also in action
Dortmund aren’t the only German club in action tonight, with RB Leipzig hosting Zenit St. Petersburg, who the Red Bulls knocked out of the Europa League in 2017-18. That kicks off at 18:55 and this is how the hosts, who are without injured Germany fullback Marcel Halstenberg but include Ademola Lookman, line up. I’m not sure why there’s a Star Wars theme either.
— One man who is back in contention tonight is Jadon Sancho, who was suspended by the club for that weekend win. He’s got a point to prove.
— Big week ahead
Borussia Dortmund start a key week of action with a stop at the San Siro in Milan in the Champions League before facing their local rivals Schalke in the Revierderby on Saturday. BVB are coming off a 1-0 win over Bundesliga leaders Borussia Mönchengladbach last weekend, but they will be withoutcaptain Marco Reus who has been struggling with the flu, as well as Paco Alcacer who is injured.
Article source: https://www.dw.com/en/champions-league-live-inter-milan-vs-borussia-dortmund/a-50951466?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf