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2015/16 Europa League - Round of 16: Borussia Dortmund

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glorygloryeze said:
Has anybody been watching Dortmund closely this year, and can give a lowdown on how we might have a chance against them?
What are their strengths and weakneses etc?

I'm looking at @Armchair Expert for particular guidance here;)
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I watched them a few times this year and they have looked really strong.

I'm really excited about this tie. It is going to be a fantastic test for our players and I am sure that they are all going to be pumped up for this.
 
glorygloryeze said:
Thanks. A few further questions:

- If we had instead drawn Leverkusen, how would you rate our chances against them in comparison to against Dortmund? Would you be more or less confident?
- You say if we play Dier and Dembele we'd win the midfield; who plays in the centre for them? I assume Sven Bender and others? How is Sven Bender doing these days?
- How do our defences compare, considering the BL vs PL?
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- Leverkusen would have been a great draw. Good enough to make it interesting, but well beatable. I'd have made us clear favourites, almost to the point where i'd have been shocked if we went out.

- Dortmund are streets ahead of the Headache tablets. Whenver i see them play the centre '6er' pairing has been Weigl and Gundogan. Decent, but doable. I think the way Dier plays as a third centre back, Dembele's power and ability and our intense working back could be decisive. In Germany i 'support' HSV, so i must admit i dont watch BVB games that closely, but thats my assessment.

- I think our defence is better, that we are more solid, but that they are potentially better up front. Obviously PEA is a real threat and lightning quick, Reus is good but probably not top noch, whilst Mikitarian* is often invisible and can go missing.

Like i say, i think we might just shade it as we are a proper unit and our concentration wont drop for a second. But then i think about Walker being doubled up on by HM & MR and suddenly i dont feel so confident.

I cant help but feel we are going to win, but of course if they beat us I'll hardly fall off my chair either!
 
Armchair Expert said:
- Leverkusen would have been a great draw. Good enough to make it interesting, but well beatable. I'd have made us clear favourites, almost to the point where i'd have been shocked if we went out.

- Dortmund are streets ahead of the Headache tablets. Whenver i see them play the centre '6er' pairing has been Weigl and Gundogan. Decent, but doable. I think the way Dier plays as a third centre back, Dembele's power and ability and our intense working back could be decisive. In Germany i 'support' HSV, so i must admit i dont watch BVB games that closely, but thats my assessment.

- I think our defence is better, that we are more solid, but that they are potentially better up front. Obviously PEA is a real threat and lightning quick, Reus is good but probably not top noch, whilst Mikitarian* is often invisible and can go missing.

Like i say, i think we might just shade it as we are a proper unit and our concentration wont drop for a second. But then i think about Walker being doubled up on by HM & MR and suddenly i dont feel so confident.

I cant help but feel we are going to win, but of course if they beat us I'll hardly fall off my chair either!
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Thanks, appreciate the posts
 
Interesting that even on Dortmunds homepage they are saying the two teams are unbelievably similar in terms of quality. Its a very complimentary article if anyone can read German:

http://www.bvb.de/News/Uebersicht/Tottenham-Hotspur-ist-Gegner-auf-Augenhoehe-mit-dem-BVB

Interesting stuff. They were also the first German team to win a Euro Cup - also the CWC a few years after us. It says the one area they are behind us is they have never won the UEFA Cup, whereas we have done it twice.

Says we hammered Fiorentina and tinkled a hard group. Really interesting read.
 
They finished behind Krasnodar in their group. Krasnodar then went out to Sparta Prague in the last round. Definitely beatable. But given our fixture congestion and the fact that they could be completely out of the title race if they lose to Bayern the week before, I'd have them as favourites.

Surely gonna be great games for the neutrals though!
 
This game will depend on our situation in the league.
I'll start thinking about Dortmund after we see the league table at that time.
 
SUIYHA said:
They finished behind Krasnodar in their group. Krasnodar then went out to Sparta Prague in the last round. Definitely beatable.
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Krasnodar was incredibly lucky in both games agains BvB (especially in the 2nd one when they nicked a win and BvB hit the post 3 times). Since then BvB improved hugely.
Krasnodar was a total mess against Sparta mainly because of huge winter break plus many people understimate this Sparta side and tbf they look really tough.
You also should consider, that BvB, generally speaking, finished their Bundesliga season - they are extremely unlikely to finish 1st or 3rd. Compare it to our situation and schedule...
Also I had a feeling as soon as yesterday's gipsy ref showed Alli one of the most ridicuolus yellow cards I've ever seen, that we'll get a tough opposition, and Alli will be missed in 1st leg -.-

Still it's a really great encounter. Possibly best in modern Spurs history on par with memorable Milan clash. Looking forward to it. Even thinking about travelling, but I don't know where I can get a ticket to away sector and will I be able to receive visa in such short period of time.
 
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