With the rope around his neck, Borussia Dortmund are aiming to maintain their hopes of qualifying for the last 16 of the European Champions League on Wednesday, November 1, 2017/2018. At Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, he will receive Apoel from Cyprus. The match comprises the fourth round of the group stage of continental competition, the first round of the second round. It is scheduled to start at 5:45 pm (Brasília time).
The teams are in Group H, which has its leadership split between Real Madrid and Tottenham with seven points earned. Only the top two will follow in the competition for the tournament title. Dortmund and Apoel split third with only one point accumulated after three games.
The recent performance of Borussia Dortmund
Thus, the confrontation of Wednesday is of double importance for the Germans. Not only would they keep the team in the fight for the classification, but if that were not achieved, they would be well on their way to winning third place, which would allow them to play in the second half of the Europa League knockout phase.
The club lives the worst moment of a season that started promising, especially in the German Championship, when it came to shoot the lead. However, after only one point in the last three matches, the team fell to second place. Set on 20 points (six wins, two draws and two losses), they were three points behind Bayern, who beat Leipzig in Munich 2-0.
In October, Dortmund won only one victory. In the second round of the German Cup, they thrashed semi-finalist Magdeburg 5-0. Dutch coach Peter Bosz, who makes his debut season on the German side after being runner-up to the Europa League in the 2016/2017 season with Ajax, has five athletes from his cast delivered to the medical department.
Lukas Pisczek (seven matches in the 2017/2018 German Championship without a goal) and Erik Durm (without performances) are doubtful for Wednesday’s match; and socks Mahmoud Dahoud (six games, no goal), Marco Reus (no performances) and Sebastian Rode (no performances).
The current form of Apoel
To reach the fourth round still with chances to play a place in the Europa League certainly is more than what could be expected of the Apoel before the ball rolls in a group with three teams that have budget much superior to yours.
Especially for not having a good time even in the Cypriot Championship, where he is considered one of the main candidates for the title. When they drew 1-1 with Achnas, away from home on Saturday, October 28, Apoel made three unbeaten starts and went on to be eighth in the national tournament with 11 points (three wins, two draws and two defeats).
The performance would not even be sufficient to bring Apoel to the decisive phase of the tournament, which is reserved for the top six. This block is closed by Omonia, which has four more points. The situation is much worse when you compare the team’s score to that of AEK Lanarca, leader. The pointer has double points.
The scenario makes the worries of coach Giorgos Donis with the continental tournament even smaller, as the priority is to react in the Cypriot Championship. To face Dortmud, he should only have a low time to set the team. Argentine midfielder Facundo Bertoglio is handed over to the medical department.
History of the bouts between Borussia Dortmund and Apoel
The match in the last round of the first round of the group stage of the Champions League 2017/2018 was the first among the teams. It finished tied by 1 to 1.
PREDICTION: Dortmund win @ 1.10
