Borussia Dortmund Faces Crucial Champions League Clash After Bundesliga Struggles

For Borussia Dortmund, the upcoming match against Lille is akin to a final for their entire season. The team’s hopes hinge on achieving success in the Champions League, as their Bundesliga campaign has left them in mediocrity, and they have already exited the DFB-Pokal.

As they prepare for the return leg of the Champions League round of 16 this Wednesday (18:45 CET/DAZN), the situation is not promising. In the first leg against Lille OSC, which ended in a 1:1 draw, Dortmund failed to extend a temporary lead, ultimately squandering their advantage on home soil. Adding to their woes, the team suffered a disappointing 0:1 loss to FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga last Saturday.

Coach Niko Kovac expressed a glimmer of hope despite the frustrating loss, stating, „So much can happen in the life of a person and a team by Wednesday. That gives me hope.“ However, there has been little sustainable progress for Dortmund in recent months, with inconsistent performances from their expensive squad being difficult to comprehend.

Even a recent 6:0 victory against 1. FC Union Berlin failed to instill lasting confidence. Center-back Nico Schlotterbeck remarked, „This is very fragile. For me, it’s a huge mental issue.“ Under Kovac, Dortmund has won only three of their eight matches, with three losses and two draws. This record is alarming for a club that aims to compete with Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich and cup holders Bayer Leverkusen.

Should Dortmund exit the Champions League, they risk severe motivational issues. Schlotterbeck emphasized, „The goal in the league cannot be to languish in tenth place.“ He aspires for more than just a mid-table finish.

While the team’s minimum target of finishing fourth for Champions League qualification is still mathematically achievable, few believe that they can overcome the current seven-point deficit to fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt with only nine matches remaining. Schlotterbeck candidly stated, „We have no consistency in the team. Lack of consistency always means a lack of quality.“ He remains hopeful for a potential turnaround through the Champions League.

Facing Lille, currently fifth in Ligue 1, is not an insurmountable task. Despite Lille being unbeaten at home in this Champions League season and having defeated titleholders Real Madrid, under normal circumstances, Dortmund would be favored against a team featuring Ethan Mbappé, younger brother of superstar Kylian Mbappé. However, normalcy seems elusive for Dortmund at this time.

Even their loyal fans have expressed dissatisfaction, booing the team during recent matches and sarcastically applauding failed plays. The Champions League remains the only bright spot for many supporters, and a victory against Lille is essential for the team to regain lost trust. Sporting director Sebastian Kehl stated, „We have a very important match ahead on Wednesday, where we can make amends for a lot of things.“