14 September 2021, 09:31 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The UEFA Champions League Group C fixture, Beşiktaş J.K. vs. Borussia Dortmund, kicks off at 17:45 (GMT+1) on Wednesday, September 15 at the Vodafone Arena. Antonio Mateu Lahoz (ESP) will be the referee for this game. He will be assisted by Pau Cebrián Devís (ESP) and Roberto del Palomar (ESP), while Juan Martínez Munuera (ESP) will be the VAR.
Preview Beşiktaş Champions League, Sep 15, 2021
Preview Michy Batshuayi (7’ & 52’) struck twice to help Beşiktaş to a 3-0 victory over Yeni Malatyaspor in Saturday’s Super Lig game. The Turkish side are at the top of the domestic standings and make their entry into the UEFA Champions League unbeaten in five games across all competitions: WDWWW. Beşiktaş J.K. shares Group C with Ajax, Sporting CP, and Borussia Dortmund. The club returns to the UEFA Champions League, having not featured in the tournament since the 2017/18 season. Wednesday’s clash will be the very first between both sides in more than three decades. A victory over Dortmund would place the Black Eagles in a promising position ahead of Matchday 2, Sept. 28, when they face Ajax at the Amsterdam Arena. Manager Sergen Yalcin named a 25-man UCL squad shortly after the transfer deadline-day, including Chelsea loanee Michy Batshuayi and Miralem Pjanic, who joined the Turkish outfit on a similar arrangement from Barcelona. Yalcin maintains a 65%-win rate with the club, having guided Beşiktaş to 43W, 11D & 12L in 66 games. On Wednesday, he will look to improve the numbers when he lines up the 4—2—3—1 formation, which could see Michy Batshuayi at the top of the shape, shouldering the goal-scoring responsibilities. Riddled with injuries, the club could be without as many as five players, with Alex Teixeira and Domagoj Vida on the injury list.
Preview Borussia Dortmund Champions League, Sep 15, 2021
Preview Dortmund are doing equally well in the German Bundesliga. The Black & Yellows are in 3rd place after the 4-3 win over Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Saturday’s seven-goal Bundesliga thriller at the BayArena which saw Erling Haaland bag a brace (37' & 77' P.). The German outfit have lost only two of their last five games across all competitions: WLLWW, but remain unbeaten in their four previous away games against Turkish sides. - The most recent being the massive 4-0 win over Turkish side Galatasaray in the group stage of the 2014/15 edition of the UEFA Champions League. Wednesday’s game against Beşiktaş would be Marco Rose’s UEFA Champions League debut with the club and the 45-year-old makes the entry with a 67%-win rate after six games: 4W, 0D & 2L. A 4—3—1—2 formation with the duo, Marco Reus and Erling Haaland, could emerge on Wednesday. Thorgan Hazard (ankle injury) remains in doubt for this fixture alongside Steffen Tigges (muscular injury), while Nico Schulz and Emre Can are also listed on the team’s injury sheet.