The Daily Star Ireland
Borussia Dortmund enter their second Champions League group match still haunted by the points they dropped in Turin. In their opener against Juventus, BVB were on course for a famous victory, leading 4-2 deep into stoppage time. But two late goals from the Italian giants left the game tied at 4-4 — a frustrating result for last year’s quarter-finalists.
Since then, Dortmund have steadied themselves with a 1-0 Bundesliga win over Wolfsburg and remain unbeaten across all competitions this season. The Black and Yellow now travel to Mainz in domestic play before turning their focus back to Europe, where they will look to build momentum and solidify their standing in the group.
Bilbao Struggling in Return to Europe
Athletic Bilbao’s long-awaited return to the Champions League after eleven years has been anything but smooth. Their opening group-stage fixture saw them fall 2-0 at home to Arsenal, and their form in La Liga has also dipped in recent weeks.
The Basques have not secured a win since the September international break, suffering defeats against Alavés (1-0) and Valencia (2-0) and drawing 1-1 with Girona. They traveled to Villarreal last weekend, hoping to stop the slide. Despite this rough patch, Bilbao still sit fifth in the Spanish league thanks to a strong start earlier in the season.
Team News and Key Players
For Dortmund, Niko Kovač continues to face selection challenges. Defensive stalwart Niklas Süle and versatile midfielder Emre Can remain sidelined with injuries and have yet to feature this season. Young defender Anselmino and forward Fabio Silva, both still in recovery, are doubtful, while Salih Özcan was left out of the squad list for the Champions League.
In attack, Serhou Guirassy has been prolific in the Bundesliga, already scoring four goals, though he is still chasing his first strike in Europe. Karim Adeyemi, meanwhile, has been crucial in recent weeks, contributing with goals and assists in three consecutive games prior to the Mainz clash.
Athletic Bilbao are also shorthanded. Key defender Yeray Álvarez is serving a doping suspension, ruling him out for the long term. Aymeric Laporte returned to the club this summer but was signed too late to be registered for the group stage, and youngster Egiluz also misses out. Midfielder Prados is unavailable through injury. The biggest uncertainty surrounds Nico Williams, Bilbao’s most creative force, who has been involved in three La Liga goals this season but is racing to recover fitness in time for this tie.
Match Outlook
Bilbao’s away record in Europe paints a worrying picture. They have lost six of their last eight continental away fixtures, conceding 16 goals in the process. That vulnerability will be tested against a Dortmund side in strong form, who have scored 20 goals in their last seven matches while collecting 18 of a possible 21 Bundesliga points.
With Dortmund unbeaten and Bilbao struggling to rediscover consistency, the odds clearly favor the German side. Playing at home, in front of the passionate Yellow Wall, BVB will look to capitalize on Bilbao’s frailties and secure a statement win in the group.
Prediction
Dortmund’s firepower and unbeaten streak should prove too strong for an injury-hit Bilbao side still adjusting to the demands of European competition.
Prediction Borussia Dortmund 3 – 1 Athletic Bilbao
