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UEFA Champions League Betting Preview: Newcastle United vs Borussia Dortmund

October 25, 2023



This Wednesday, October 25th, serves us another blockbuster clash from this season’s Champions League ‘Group of Death’ between Newcastle United and Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.

Newcastle United are set for their first home match with a German side since the Champions League second group stage in 2002-03, when they beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 with a first-half hat-trick from Alan Shearer. 

Borussia Dortmund, on the other hand, have lost their last six European away games against English clubs, conceding at least twice on each occasion.

Newcastle United Betting Preview (-175 at Everygame)

Newcastle will be looking to make it nine games unbeaten in all competitions when they welcome Borussia Dortmund to Tyneside on Wednesday evening (local time).

Eddie Howe's side were relentless to dismantle French champions Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 on a memorable Champions League evening at St James’ Park in their second Group F game. The Magpies opened their campaign with a trip to Italy where they were held to a goalless draw with Serie A side AC Milan. 

Domestically, Newcastle United sit sixth in the Premier League table, four points behind the top four as Eddie Howe's side had to endure a sluggish start to their campaign. However, they have won four of their last five top-flight matches and have kept a clean sheet in all but one over the period - a 2-2 draw at West Ham United just before this month's international break. 

The Magpies returned to action with a comfortable 4-0 win over Roy Hodgson's Crystal Palace last weekend. Speaking after the game, Eddie Howe revealed that Sven Botman is still another two weeks away from full fitness after a knee injury. 

The Netherlands defender was in fine form before picking up the injury but now faces a fight to get back into Eddie Howe's first-choice XI. 

With captain Jamaal Lascelles in superb form, Howe can at least stay cool on the centre-back and not rush the Dutchman back.

Joe Willock could be a little closer but Borussia Dortmund will come too soon for the midfielder, who had just recovered from a long-term hamstring injury.

Harvey Barnes is also a long-term absentee for Newcastle, while the likes of Emil Krafth, Javier Manquillo and Matt Ritchie are not eligible for the Champions League. 

Alexander Isak was only introduced as a late second-half substitute at the weekend so it's safe to assume that the Swedish forward will start against his former club.

Callum Wilson enjoyed a scoring return to the starting side against Crystal Palace on Saturday, but the English forward may have to settle for a place on the bench here. 

Miguel Almiron is also set to be recalled into the starting line-up for tonight's clash with Borussia Dortmund. The Paraguayan winger had a long journey back from South America and was only brought on as a second-half substitute against Crystal Palace. 

Meanwhile, Sandro Tonali should be available to face Borussia Dortmund tonight in what could be his final appearance before a suspension. The Italian international is set to miss the next 10 months with domestic authorities ready to confirm his ban for illegal betting.

Borussia Dortmund Betting Preview (+450 at Everygame)

Borussia Dortmund are undefeated in their last five matches in all competitions (winning four of them) as they travel to England on the back of a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Friday.

Edin Terzic's side are yet to lose a game in the Bundesliga this term, winning five in a row after the September international break.  

Despite their unbeaten form, the Black and Yellows sit fourth in what seems to be a highly-competitive Bundesliga season, level on points with reigning champions Bayern Munich in third and two behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen. 

Felix Nmecha is set to keep his starting spot alongside captain Emre Can in the middle. Elsewhere, versatile midfielder Julian Brandt, who scored the winner against Werder Bremen on Friday night should keep his starting spot in Borussia Dortmund's frontline. 

With three goals and four assists in eight Bundesliga appearances this season, Brandt has been one of the standout performers for Edin Terzic and the 27-year-old Germany international is the club's joint top goalscorer in all competitions along with Donyell Malen (with four goals each).

Mats Hummels returned to the Germany national team for the first time since Euro 2020, as the veteran started in a 3-1 friendly win over the United States in Julian Nagelsmann's debut this month.

Austrian midfielder Marcel Sabitzer and German forward Karim Adeyemi are also pushing for starts, though Edin Terzic would be reluctant to make wholesale changes. 

Niclas Füllkrug failed to have an impact against his former club on Friday evening but the German international should lead the line against Newcastle. 

Giovani Reyna was introduced as a substitute to make his second appearance of the season as the USMNT international recovered from a foot injury. 

Norway international Julian Ryerson did not travel to England due to an illness, so Ramy Bensebaini is expected to start at left-back.

Meanwhile, Thomas Meunier, Mateu Morey and Julien Duranville are all sidelined for the trip to Newcastle upon Tyne.

Possible Starting Lineups of Newcastle United and Borussia Dortmund 

Newcastle United: Nick Pope - Dan Burn. Fabian Schär, Jamaal Lascelles, Kieran Trippier - Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimarães, Joelinton - Miguel Almirón, Alexander Isak, Jacob Murphy. (4-3-3) 

Borussia Dortmund: Gregor Kobel - Marius Wolf, Mats Hummels, Nico Schlotterbeck, Ramy Bensebaini - Emre Can, Felix Nmecha - Donyell Malen, Marco Reus, Julian Brandt - Niclas Füllkrug. (4-2-3-1) 

Spooky Express Betting Prediction 

Eddie Howe's side have won their last five home matches in all competitions - since the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in late-August - and are once again favored to extend their winning streak. 

That goal PSG scored against Newcastle is the only one that Eddie Howe's men have conceded at St. James' Park across their last five competitive matches, all of which they won, so they’ll be seeking to lay the foundations for another victory with a strong defensive performance. 

Borussia Dortmund will be looking to score their first goal in the Champions League this term, with the Black and Yellows failing to do so against PSG and AC Milan earlier this autumn.

They might find a way to exploit Sven Botman's absence but Newcastle United will eventually outscore their German opponents. 

Spooky Express Free Play: Outcome And Both To Score - Newcastle United and Yes +185 at Everygame for 4/10 Units