Borussia Dortmund will Champions League quarter-final berth when they host PSV Eindhoven in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie.
It has been a chaotic campaign for the Germans, who have fallen off the pace in the Bundesliga, but after a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the Netherlands a few weeks ago, their European ambitions remain alive.
Dortmund boss Edin Terzic has come under pressure at times this term, but his side’s exploits on the continent could help salvage his job.
PSV, on the other hand, may well have lamented the chances they spurned in the first leg. Malik Tillman was arguably the chief culprit as he squandered several clear-cut opportunities, and so he will be looking to put things right.
Peter Bosz’s charges, who are in the midst of an eight-game unbeaten streak, have only lost twice in all competitions this term, so they shouldn’t be underestimated.
But can PSV silence the Yellow Wall at Signal Iduna Park? I have trawled through the markets and unearthed a couple of value tips for you to add to your betting slips.
Borussia Dortmund to make smooth progress
While things haven’t transpired in the manner that Terzic would have hoped for on the domestic front, Dortmund have clicked into gear in Europe, and they have turned in some excellent performances at home.
Although three of Dortmund’s most recent four last-16 ties have seen them eliminated, the 1997 winners have considerable more pedigree than PSV, who are bidding to reach the last eight for the first time since the 2006/07 campaign.
Bosz has a few injury concerns for this game, with Noa Lang set to miss out (hamstring), while Richie Ledezma is a doubt.
Dortmund’s last knockout clash against Dutch opponents makes for worrying reading as they lost 2-0 at home to Ajax in the 1995/96 quarter-finals, slumping to a 3-0 aggregate defeat following a 1-0 reverse on the road.
It is fair to assert that Dortmund’s record against Dutch outfits in Europe’s elite competition is mixed. While PSV acquitted themselves well against Dortmund in the first leg, and will relish their chances, I can’t see Dortmund missing out.
For my first pick, I have leant into the Win to Nil market, and for Dortmund to fulfil this line. Paddy Power has obliged with inviting odds of 16/5.
Donyell Malen to haunt PSV
In the first leg, Donyell Malen was a menace against his former employers, and he tried to stretch them at every possible moment.
More significantly, he grabbed the opening goal of the game, twisting before burying a right-footed shot in the penalty area into the top corner of the net.
Malen will be a handful, and he has been in a purple patch in front of goal, firing home five goals in his past four outings in all competitions.
His partnership with Niclas Fullkrug has flourished in recent weeks with Malen (nine) and Fullkrug (six) contributing 15 of Dortmund’s last 22 goals.
Anyway, to wrap things off, I think Malen could be the telling factor once again, and I like the look of him scoring the final goal of the game. Odds of 15/2 can be located at bet365 for him to do so.
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