Both Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea will feel as though the Champions League draw has been relatively kind to them. The English side were victorious in this competition as recently as the 2020-21 season when Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard as manager before managing to navigate a path to the final before the London side were able to overcome favourites Manchester City.
If Tuchel had remained at Stamford Bridge this season, he would have returned to one of his former clubs for this tie, although it’s Graham Potter who is now responsible for preparing a Chelsea team to claim a positive first leg result against a Dortmund side who were able to hold Manchester City to a goalless draw a few months ago.
Dortmund also took the lead at the Etihad Stadium only to be undone at the end of the game by a late City comeback, with Jude Bellingham scoring on that occasion and it appears that the England midfielder could hold the key to further progress in this competition. He will go up against international team-mates Mason Mount and Reece James over two games.
At the time of writing, the German side sit fourth in the Bundesliga table and they have been typically difficult to beat on home soil. Five wins and a draw have occurred in seven home games, with plenty of goals being scored. We might look at a goals-related bet for this first leg and there should be plenty of ambition now that the away goals rule has been scrapped.