We now have entered the essential stretch of Borussia Dortmund’s season. Over the subsequent week and a half, Dortmund will face Atalanta at dwelling, RB Leipzig away, Atalanta away, and Bayern Munich at dwelling. Tomorrow’s match in opposition to Atalanta is pivotal for any hopes to succeed in the UCL spherical of 16 – and the lofty income that comes with it. Sadly for Dortmund, the membership’s paper skinny back-line is even thinner. Nico Schlotterbeck, Emre Can, Niklas Sule, and even Filippo Mane are out injured. With Ramy Bensebaini and Waldemar Anton because the locked-in starters, Niko Kovac should be artistic. He can make the most of a younger participant, like Luca Reggiani, or play somebody out of place with each Salih Ozcan and Julian Ryerson being potential hole fillers. Dortmund’s defensive stability can be very important in the event that they hope to make the most of their dwelling discipline benefit and start the tie with a win.
Atalanta can be a really powerful take a look at for Dortmund. Regardless of incomes a repute as one in all Italy’s premier attacking groups below Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta have a brand new look below Raffaele Palladino. The Torino outfit have solely conceded 21 objectives in Seria A, the joint fourth greatest protection, and solely 10 objectives within the UCL in comparison with Dortmund’s 17. Scoring has been a problem for Palladino’s aspect however a key 3-0 win over Juventus and 2-0 win over Lazio signifies that Atalanta could have discovered their taking pictures boots. Nonetheless, the duty is straightforward for Dortmund – win at dwelling.
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Participant to Watch: Marco Carnesecchi
It’s not typically that I decide a goalkeeper for ‘Participant to Watch’ however Marco Carnesecchi has quietly earned a declare to being the perfect goalkeeper in Serie A. The 25-year-old Italian has a whopping 79.2% save proportion in Serie A and has prevented 8 anticipated objectives heading in the right direction. He’s a big purpose for Atalanta’s stalwart protection within the UCL and can be keen to maintain Serhou Guirassy and firm quiet tomorrow.
Predicted Lineup
Dortmund’s 4 center-back accidents are the only absences from tomorrow’s match. The large query surrounding Niko Kovac’s lineup choice can be how he fills Dortmund’s defensive holes. One other query, nevertheless, is whether or not or not the coach will sacrifice Dortmund’s UCL marketing campaign to maintain strain on Bayern within the Bundesliga.
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Tomorrow’s match is a large alternative to place the tie out of attain for Atalanta and one thing tells me that Niko Kovac will discipline a full-strength lineup. I count on Julian Ryerson to drop into the again three regardless of his 4 help efficiency over the weekend. Daniel Svensson and Yan Couto will play as attacking wing-backs with Felix Nmecha and a returning Marcel Sabitzer in between them. Julian Brandt has seemingly earned his place alongside Maximilian Beier and Guirassy so I count on these three to reprise their roles from Friday’s sport. Dortmund’s substitute bench can be key, nevertheless, as Dortmund’s congested schedule will drive Kovac to substitute earlier. Let’s hope Ozcan remembers how one can play soccer!
Your Ideas
Do you guys assume Kovac ought to prioritize the Bundesliga, UCL, or go for each? Who will begin alongside Bensebaini and Anton?
Fast writers be aware – I apologize to everybody for a lot of of my articles going out later within the day than ordinary. Sadly, like Dortmund, I’ve additionally had a congested schedule over the previous couple of weeks. Thanks once more to everybody who takes the time to learn my nonsense and speak soccer within the feedback!