Free-scoring SL Benfica host 1997 Champions League winners Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday evening, in a game that should provide fans with plenty of attacking prowess.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have already travelled to Lisbon this season, beating Sporting Lisbon in their group game however, they come into fixture after losing against rock-bottom Darmstadt – a result that put more pressure on Tuchel, who has once again been linked with a move to Arsenal.
A poor defeat against Darmstadt came on the back of a flat-footed performance against Hertha BSC in the DFB Pokal; of which they needed penalties to get past their counterparts. They may not have problems going forward but defensively, they are weak. Perhaps something that the likes of Jonas & Co. will most certainly capitalise on, despite the departure of Gonçalo Guedes to PSG.
As per, Rui Vitoria’s Benfica currently find themselves sitting top of the Liga Nos, one point ahead of closest rivals FC Porto. A hotbed for talent, the two times European Cup winners have produced players such as David Luiz, Angel Di Maria and Bayern Munich’s recent signing, Renato Sanches.
Dortmund recruited Alexander Isak in the winter window for AIK, adding to a plethora of talent that arrived at the Westfalenstadion in summer which includes Ousmane Dembele; Emre Mor; Mikel Merino; Marc Bartra and Raphaël Guerreiro.
As always, if Dortmund are to travel back to Germany with an away leg victory, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Demebele will once again have to link up. Tuchel will be without Mario Götze for this tie, whilst Marcel Schmelzer and Lukasz Piszczek remain doubtful, despite being named in the squad; and so they may opt for a back-three – something we’ve seen a number of times from Tuchel this season.
