Dortmund target next win against Celtic

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Runners-up to Real Madrid in last year’s competition, Dortmund saw off challenges from Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, AC Milan and Newcastle United en route to the final at Wembley. The 1997 European champions also got this campaign off to a perfect start with a 3-0 win at Club Brugge a fortnight ago as they target progress through the new-format Champions League and a potential final at Munich’s Allianz Arena next summer. It was coach Nuri Şahin’s substitutions that made the difference in Belgium as Jamie Gittens (two goals) and Serhou Guirassy both came off the bench to strike in the final quarter of an hour to place BVB fifth in the nascent league table. Summer signing Guirassy was on target again on Friday with a brace as Borussia battled back from 2-0 down to beat Bochum 4-2 and extend the team’s run of victories in all competitions at Signal Iduna Park to six across seasons. Felix Nmecha shook off a hip issue to score off the bench as well. Marcel Sabitzer missed that game but did train on Monday and should be involved in some capacity. Şahin also spoke last week of a potential return for Gio Reyna after the American’s recovery from a groin strain progressed quicker than expected but has since confirmed the 21-year-old won't be back in time for this match.

Celtic have never beaten German opposition in the Champions League, most recently coming up against RB Leipzig in 2022/23, when they suffered home and away defeats in the group stage. On the domestic front, Brendan Rodgers’ side have made their usual strong start and boast a perfect record after six games to sit top of the Scottish Premiership. In fact, the league and cup holders have won every match so far this campaign across all competitions, including a 5-1 victory at home to Slovan Bratislava in their first league phase outing. Summer signing from Augsburg Arne Engels was among the scorers that night and has had a hand in four goals in five appearances since swapping Bavaria for Glasgow. As things stand, the Bhoys have no injury concerns ahead of their trip to Dortmund, where both sets of fans will get to enjoy their club anthem of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.

Watch: Dortmund's storming comeback to beat Bochum

Match stats

• Gittens and Guirassy are Dortmund's joint-top scorers so far in 2024/25, with four goals each from six and seven competitive games respectively.
• As a player, Şahin made 24 Champions League appearances in the colours of Dortmund (20) and Real Madrid (four).
• Dortmund have played in three Champions League finals, winning the competition in Munich in 1996/97.
• BVB have won three of four meetings with Celtic to date, and six of 16 against Scottish clubs (D5, L5).
• Celtic have lost 19 of 28 games against German opposition (W4, D5) and won none in the Champions League (D2, L6).
• Engels, 21, made 53 appearances for Augsburg and became the youngest Celtic player to score and assist on his Champions League debut on Matchday 1.

Probable teams

Dortmund: Kobel - Couto, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Ryerson - Can (c), Groß - Gittens, Brandt, Adeyemi - Guirassy
Out: Reyna (groin)
Doubtful: -
Coach: Nuri Şahin

Celtic: Schmeichel - Johnston, Trusty, Scales, Taylor - Engels, McGregor (c), Hatate - Kühn, Furuhashi, Maeda
Out: - 
Doubtful: Carter-Vickers (toe)
Coach: Brendan Rodgers

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