Lille and Borussia Dortmund are set for a decisive Champions League battle in Lille after their first leg ended in a 1-1 draw in Germany. The winner of this match will advance to face Barcelona in the next round. Lille comes into this game with momentum from a weekend victory against Montpellier, while Dortmund’s Bundesliga form remains inconsistent after a loss to Augsburg. Despite reaching the Champions League final last season, Dortmund currently sits mid-table in the Bundesliga, but a strong Champions League run could change their season’s narrative.
Match Details
- Date: Wednesday, March 12
- Location: Decathlon Arena — Villeneuve d’Asq, France
- TV: CBS Sports Network
- Live stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Lille +170; Draw +230; Dortmund +160
First Leg Summary
Dortmund hosted the first leg and took an early lead with a goal from Karim Adeyemi in the 22nd minute. However, Lille grew stronger as the game progressed. Jonathan David set up Hakon Arnar Haraldsson’s equalizing goal for Lille, securing a valuable draw in the first knockout stage match. Lille’s solid defense and the attacking contributions of David have been key factors in their Champions League campaign.
Key Storylines
Lille
Having participated in the Europa Conference League last season, Lille is now aiming higher in the Champions League. History favors them as they have won every European tie where they drew the first leg. Playing at home for this crucial quarterfinal qualification match, Lille’s fans will create a strong atmosphere. Lille has limited experience with penalty shootouts in Europe, but their past experiences could be beneficial if the game goes to penalties.
Lille Predicted XI: Lucas Chevalier, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Alexandro Ribeiro, Bafode Diakite, Thomas Meunier, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Benjamin Andre, Ethan Mbappe, Ngal Ayel Mukau, Hakon Arnar Haraldsson, Jonathan David
Borussia Dortmund
Despite their struggles in the domestic league, Dortmund has performed well enough in the Champions League to reach this stage, overcoming Sporting CP in the previous round. Serhou Guirassy has been a key player in attack, but Lille’s strong defense will likely focus on containing him. For Dortmund to win away, other attacking players will need to step up.
Dortmund Predicted XI: Gegor Kobel, Ramy Bensebaini, Nico Schlotterbeck, Emre Can, Julian Ryerson, Pascal Gross, Marcel Sabitzer, Jamie Gittens, Julian Brandt, Karim Adeyemi, Serhou Guirassy
Match Prediction
Lille’s strong defense means they may only need one goal to secure advancement. With Jonathan David in their attack, they are likely to find that goal and progress in this memorable European campaign. Prediction: Lille 1, Dortmund 0
