Borussia Dortmund and Lille will play the first leg of their last-16 match at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday night, vying for the chance to play Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals.
The defeated finalists from the previous season advanced past Sporting Lisbon in the playoff elimination stage to secure a meeting with Les Dogues, who managed to sneak into the top eight of the league-phase standings.
With Sporting's resounding 3-0 victory against Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League playoff match, the 2023–24 runners-up just had to avoid a home collapse to guarantee their spot in the round of 16.
After recovering from sickness, Julian Ryerson exercised on Monday, putting Dortmund's team in a reasonably strong position for the first leg. However, Carney Chukwuemeka (load management) is doubtful, while Felix Nmecha (knee) and Filippo Mane (muscle) are not available.
Lille striker David, who will be at the center of an exciting summer transfer war this summer, needs just one more goal to become Les Dogues' all-time leading scorer in major European tournaments. Speaking of club history, it may be created on Tuesday night.
However, Kovac might not feel the need to hurry Ryerson back for the opening leg, where Julian Brandt will be aiming for a club record, because Yan Couto held his own in the right-back position over the weekend.
A goalless draw in the second leg was exactly what Borussia Dortmund needed, securing their spot in the Champions League last 16 for the sixth time in seven seasons. The European competition has been a welcome distraction from their ongoing struggles in the Bundesliga this season.
Hoping to extend the struggles of a Dortmund side that has managed only two wins in their last nine competitive matches at the Signal Iduna Park, Lille are aiming to make club history over these two legs. They have never advanced beyond the last-16 stage of the Champions League and are determined to break that barrier this time around.
From navigating the qualifying rounds to finishing seventh in the 36-team league phase, Lille have embarked on a remarkable journey in this season’s Champions League. Their campaign has been highlighted by victories over both Madrid giants and a dominant 6-1 dismantling of Feyenoord in the league phase.
Lille’s direct progression to the quarter-finals was fueled by their exceptional efficiency in front of goal. Under Bruno Genesio’s guidance, they converted 22.7% of their chances during the league phase—the highest rate among all teams. However, they were given a harsh lesson in attacking prowess on Saturday night, suffering a comprehensive 4-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. Despite the loss, Jonathan David’s late consolation goal ensured that Lille extended their scoring streak to 11 matches across all competitions, providing a small silver lining ahead of their long-awaited return to the Signal Iduna Park.
When Dortmund and Lille face off on Tuesday night, it will mark their first meeting in over 22 years. The two sides previously clashed in the 2001-02 UEFA Cup last 16, where Dortmund advanced on away goals after a 1-1 aggregate draw over two legs. This time, both teams will be eager to write a new chapter in their European rivalry.
However, under Niko Kovac’s guidance, Dortmund are beginning to regain their form in the domestic league. They followed up a dominant 6-0 thrashing of Union Berlin on February 22 with a comfortable 2-0 victory over St. Pauli at home on Saturday.
Prolific striker Serhou Guirassy—currently the top scorer in the Champions League with 10 goals—opened the scoring before Karim Adeyemi sealed the win. This marked the first time Dortmund had secured back-to-back Bundesliga victories this season.
Despite their recent improvement, Kovac’s side remains stuck in mid-table with significant ground to cover to catch the teams ahead. As a result, a deep run in this year’s Champions League might be their best shot at securing a place in the 2025-26 tournament.
