Borussia Dortmund v Real Betis: Champions League preview, predicted line-ups and prediction
Dortmund sit 16th in the league phase and need a win at Signal Iduna Park against a Real Betis side with three wins from three and a place in the top eight.
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Dortmund face Betis with play-off place at stake
Borussia Dortmund host Real Betis on Wednesday with a very different league-phase story to tell than the visitors. Betis have won all three of their Champions League games and sit seventh on 9 points, inside the top eight. Dortmund are 16th on 6 points, in a play-off place, after winning two of their three matches.
That is the gap this game could close. A home win would lift Dortmund level with Betis on points. A defeat would leave them chasing the pack at Signal Iduna Park with the league phase more than half gone.
Borussia Dortmund
Real BetisHow they got here
Dortmund opened with a 3-2 home win over Villarreal on 8 September, then lost 1-0 away to Bodo/Glimt on 14 October. They bounced back with a 2-1 away win on 20 October.
Betis won 3-2 at Lille on 8 September and beat FC Porto 3-2 at home on 14 October. They followed that with a 1-0 home win over Feyenoord on 21 October, their only clean sheet so far. Betis have scored 7 and conceded 4, and four of their seven goals have come between the 46th and 60th minutes.
Rotation or full strength?
Neither side has an obvious reason to rest anyone. Dortmund need the points to get out of the play-off places, and Betis want to protect a top-eight position. Expect both to pick their strongest available XI.
Dortmund have lined up in a 3-4-2-1 in all three matches and Betis in a 4-2-3-1. Neither shape is likely to change. Dortmund's main selection issue is the injury list in midfield. Betis are missing a full-back and a striker.
Borussia DortmundReal Betis
Line-ups
Borussia Dortmund3-4-2-1- 1GG. Kobel
- 3DW. Anton
- 4DN. Schlotterbeck
- 5DR. Bensebaïni
- 26MJ. Ryerson
- 25MJ. Veerman
- 8MF. Nmecha
- 24MD. Svensson
- 7MJ. Bellingham
- 21MFábio Silva
- 9FS. Guirassy
Real Betis4-2-3-1- 1GÁlvaro Vallés
- 12DÁngel Ortiz
- 3DDiego Llorente
- 4DNatan
- 16DV. Gómez
- 18MN. Deossa
- 6MF. Bernal
- 7MAntony
- 25MDani Ceballos
- 10MA. Ezzalzouli
- 19FT. Parrott
Where to watch Borussia Dortmund v Real Betis: TV and online streams
The match kicks off at 20:00 GMT on Wednesday 4 November at Signal Iduna Park. The UK broadcaster has not been confirmed for this fixture and the page will be updated closer to kick-off.
This is a single league-phase match, not a two-legged tie. Every Champions League league-phase game is decided over 90 minutes, so there is no extra time or penalty shootout.
Stats for Borussia Dortmund v Real Betis
- Betis have won three from three in the league phase, scoring 7 and conceding 4. Dortmund have won two and lost one, scoring 5 and conceding 4.
- Dortmund have scored 3 per game at home in the competition from one match, against 1.0 per game away. Betis average 3.0 goals per game away from one match.
- Dortmund have kept no clean sheets in three games. Betis have kept one, at home to Feyenoord.
Match Result: Borussia Dortmund to win
Dortmund have scored in two of their three games and Betis have scored at least twice in two of theirs, so both defences look vulnerable. Betis have the better record, but Dortmund are at home with the greater need. Neither side has kept a clean sheet away from home, and goals at both ends look likely. Dortmund should edge a tight contest.