Tottenham v Dortmund: line-ups, where to watch, form guide
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Article summary
It may be Tottenham's first game of the campaign, but for manager Mauricio Pochettino the opening-night visit of Borussia Dortmund to Wembley is "like a final".
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Article body
- Dortmund return to Wembley, scene of their 2013 final defeat
- Tottenham missing suspended midfielder Dele Alli
- Spurs won one, lost two at Wembley in 2016/17 group stage
- Tottenham boss Pochettino: "This competition doesn't wait for you"
- Dortmund unbeaten in five fixtures this season
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Possible line-ups
Tottenham: Lloris; Alderweireld, Sánchez, Vertonghen; Trippier, Dier, Dembélé, Davies; Son, Eriksen; Kane.
Out: Wanyama (knee), N'Koudou (foot), Rose (knee), Alli (suspended)
Dortmund: Bürki; Piszczek, Papastathopoulos, Toprak, Zagadou; Şahin, Castro, Götze; Philipp, Pulišić; Aubameyang.
Out: Durm (hip), Schmelzer (ankle), Rode (pelvis), Guerreiro (ankle), Subotić (illness), Bartra (groin)
Doubtful: Schürrle (thigh)
Where to watch
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.
Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham manager
It's like a final. Last season was our first experience in the Champions League. That experience is important and now we know very well what the competition demands. We need to compete with big sides like Dortmund. The competition doesn't wait for you. We're ready. It'll be a tough game because Dortmund are a great team, but the mentality is at a good level. Winning and taking three points will be key for the future.
Peter Bosz, Dortmund coach
Spurs have a similar philosophy to us and I’m expecting a good game. I want us to be brave tomorrow. The first game is always important, but we’re approaching it like any other and we’re here to win. The Champions League is the highest level you can play at in Europe. At the start [of Bosz's tenure] we were making defensive mistakes, but since then the players have really been putting everything into practice well.
Weekend results
Everton 0-3 Tottenham
Freiburg 0-0 Dortmund
Form guide*
Tottenham: WDLW
Dortmund: DWWWD
*All competitions, this season only. Most recent result first
Reporter's view: Daniel Thacker (@UEFAcomDanielT)
With Real Madrid also in Group H, this encounter already looks crucial to these sides' hopes. Tottenham's Wembley worries are yet to disappear – Pochettino's charges have not won at the national stadium this season – but Harry Kane's return to form bodes well. New coach Bosz, meanwhile, has shored up Dortmund's defence while ensuring BVB remain clinical in front of goal. This is shaping up to be an intriguing high-stakes meeting.
Did you know?
Dortmund held sway when these teams met in the 2015/16 UEFA Europa League round of 16, winning both legs for a 5-1 aggregate triumph. Read more in our extensive match background.