Champions League Team News and Prediction: Sevilla vs Borussia Dortmund

Sevilla will hope to fare better than Barcelona when the second of the remaining four Spanish sides in the Champions League get their last-16 campaign underway against Borussia Dortmund tonight. Los Nervionenses are one of the form sides in Europe and are seeking to gain a first leg advantage against a BVB outfit that has been struggling to match expectations in 2020/21. 

Here we run through all the key pre-match information, including where and how to watch tonight's Champions League tie, key team news and probable XIs. 

When is kick off?   

Wednesday 17th February, 20:00 GMT   

Where is the match?   

Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville 

Where can I watch it?   

BT Sport 3 

Form Guide 

Sevilla have been unstoppable of late, winning their last nine competitive matches. The LaLiga side have lost just one of their last 19 in all competitions, a record stemming back to early December, with a 2-0 defeat at league leaders Atletico Madrid the only mark on the record book. They finished second to Chelsea in Group E, with a 4-0 home defeat to Chelsea in the penultimate round of fixtures denying them top spot. 

Conversely, tonight's opponents Borussia Dortmund have been in sub-par form of late with the dismissal of Lucien Favre not having the desired effect. The Bundesliga side have confirmed that Marco Rose will take charge over the summer, so the club is going through the motions until then. A run of two wins in seven has seen Dortmund drop out of the title race, but they can at least call upon a solid Champions League record here. Indeed, after losing their opening group game to Lazio, the German side subsequently picked up 13 of an available 15 points, topping Group F in the process. 

Team News 

Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui has no confirmed absences, but is rather sweating on the fitness of new fewer than four players. Key full-back pair Jesus Navas and Marcos Acuna will hope to recover in time, with the former closer to a return at right-back, though Lopetegui may not risk the experienced Spaniard here with Aleix Vidal an able deputy. Attacking duo Lucas Ocampos and Oscar Rodriguez are also doubts for the welcome of Borussia Dortmund. Papu Gomez is hoping to make his first Champions League appearance for the Spanish outfit following his arrival from Atalanta. 

For Borussia Dortmund, regular central midfield starter Axel Witsel is absent. Thomas Delaney has travelled separately following the birth of his child and should start alongside Jude Bellingham in the middle of the park. Thomas Meunier has made the squad that travelled to Spain following his recovery from injury and should start at right-back, but Roman Burki and Dan-Axel Zagadou are ruled out. Marwin Hitz is expected to feature between the sticks. 

Probable XIs 

Sevilla (433) - Bono; Vidal, Kounde, Carlos, Escudero; Rakitic, Fernando, Jordan; Suso, En-Nesyri; Gomez

Borussia Dortmund (4231) - Hitz; Meunier, Akanji, Hummels, Guerreiro; Bellingham, Delaney; Sancho, Reus, Reyna; Haaland

Key Battle: Youssef En-Nesyri vs Erling Haaland

Of the four hat-tricks scored in LaLiga this season, Youssef En-Nesyri has netted two of them. What's more, both were bagged since the turn of the year with the Moroccan, after a slow start to life in Seville following his arrival from Leganes, beginning to hit his stride. What's more, the 23-year-old has scored four goals in just 237 minutes of Champions League action at a rate of a goal every 59.3 minutes and against a Dortmund side that has conceded in each of their last eight outings, En-Nesyri will be chomping at the bit to get stuck into BVB's backline.

Yet while Sevilla have a goal machine in En-Nesyri in the ranks, interim Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic has one of the most prolific frontmen in Europe at his disposal. No player has scored more goals than Erling Haaland (6) in the Champions League this season, while the Norwegian's WhoScored rating of 8.34 is the second best in the competition. Haaland has had a direct hand in five goals in his last five Dortmund outings, and with the young striker in fine form despite his side's struggles, the Bundesliga outfit remain in with a shot of ending Sevilla's winning run.

Score Prediction - Sevilla 3-1 Borussia Dortmund