BVB preview with German football expert Mark Lovell
Tue 05 March 2019, 07:23|Tottenham Hotspur
A freelance sports journalist based in Germany for over 20 years, Bayern Munich correspondent for ESPN, Mark Lovell knows the Bundesliga inside-out and was in Augsburg to witness Borussia Dortmund's 2-1 loss on Friday night. Here are Mark's views on our Champions League Round of 16, second leg at Signal Iduna Park in our latest 'Preview from the Press Box'.
Borussia Dortmund’s form
Mark: “They are in a bit of disarray, to be honest. I was in Augsburg on Friday night when they lost 2-1 and it was a pretty tame performance from the Bundesliga leaders against a relegation-threatened team (Augsburg are 15th). They are making the same defensive mistakes over and over again. At home, maybe they will get away with it as they create more chances, but their form isn’t great going into this second leg against Spurs. They will give it a go, obviously, roared on by those passionate fans. I would expect Spurs to have to really stand up in the first 20 minutes, but morale is low at the moment and I would say it’s looking good for Spurs.”
Borussia Dortmund’s approach
Mark: “I think they will come out of the traps and try to get an early goal. That’s the way they play at home anyway. Expect high levels of intensity, streams of attacks hoping to pinch an early goal and then they will have a foot in the tie and maybe with it more belief that they can turn it around.”
Key player
Mark: “Marco Reus played for an hour in Augsburg and they’ve missed him immensely, especially his experience in the Champions League. They will look for him. He’s their key man, for sure.”
Key areas
Mark: “I watched the first leg from the safety of my sofa and I’d watched Dortmund previously and they’ve had tremendous problems defending crosses, so it was no surprise Spurs ended up winning that game getting crosses into the box - all three goals came that way. I’m sure Spurs are aware of that and they have Harry Kane back from injury since the first leg. I don’t think Spurs will have to change too much, they will know how to kill this game off, take the sting out of it, ideally grab a goal and then it might be a comfortable evening. But stranger things have happened. If Dortmund get an early goal, perhaps someone makes a mistake... you never know. Dortmund have the quality, that’s for sure.”
Prediction
Mark: “I’m going for a 2-1 win for Spurs.”