Borussia Dortmund vs Paris Saint-Germain. Prediction and Preview. Probable Lineups, Team News, Stats, and more

Borussia Dortmund will host Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League 6th round group stage match at the Signal Iduna Park. The fixture will take place on Thursday, December 14, beginning at 1:30 a.m. IST.

Parimatch News will tell you everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming match.

Borussia Dortmund News & Current Form: 

The Bumblebees started their journey in Group F of the Champions League, which was labeled “The Quartet of Death” immediately after the draw, with a defeat at Parc des Princes. In an essentially equal game, PSG were lucky with a penalty and as a result the Germans lost 0:2. However, after that Dortmund showed the best results in the group, getting 10 out of a possible 12 points. After a draw with AC Milan at home, Terzic’s men defeated a stagnant Newcastle United twice and then upset the Rossoneri at the San Siro in the fifth round (3:1). This goal in Milan incidentally became the only goal conceded by Dortmund in the last four matches of the Champions League. 

In almost all of those games, Dortmund played second fiddle and in many ways looked worse than their opponents, yet the main thing is the result. Borussia have guaranteed themselves participation in the 1/8 finals, but a defeat to a motivated PSG in the last round will move the “bumblebees” from the first line, which means that in the play-offs draw the Germans may get a potentially more difficult opponent. However, recent results in the Champions League at home suggest that Dortmund can be optimistic about the match. Borussia have not conceded in any of their last four matches at Signal Iduna Park in the UCL, the club’s best ever Eurocup record.

In contrast, the Prussians are haunted by failures in the domestic arena. In the last six rounds in the Bundesliga, the Bumblebees won only against Borussia Mönchengladbach (4:2). They also drew with Eintracht Frankfurt (3:3) and leading Bayer 04 (1:1). The Black and Yellows lost to Bayern Munich (0:4), Stuttgart (1:2) and RB Leipzig (2:3). In addition, they crashed out of the German Cup, losing in the 1/8 finals, again to the revitalized Stuttgart of Sebastian Hoeneß (0:2). 

As a result, Dortmund dropped to fifth in the league standings, four points behind fourth-placed Leipzig. While showing good goalscoring productivity in the championship (2 goals per match on average), the defensive redoubts let the team down (23 goals conceded). In order to fight for the top spots, Terzic will have to decide how to achieve reliability in their third. 

In the upcoming game, the following players will not be able to help the team: Zabitzer, Mukoko, Meunier, Ryerson, Duranville, Wolf, Jan, Nmecha, Haller and Morey. Many of them are injured and some of them have disciplinary penalties. It is possible that Terzic will allocate a lot of playing time to the youngsters in the upcoming match. In order to win the group, Borussia need only not lose to PSG. They can, of course, play at full strength and try to get revenge on the Parisians. However, Terzic has a reason to save the leaders’ strength for the domestic arena. Immediately after the upcoming match, a difficult trip to Augsburg will await the Black and Yellows, it is extremely important to turn the tide and start gaining points in the Bundesliga.

Paris Saint-Germain News & Current Form: 

PSG have a much more stable and promising situation on the domestic arena. In the current season of the French Championship, the Red & Blues team look spectacular and are now confidently leading in the table. They have 36 points in 15 rounds and only 1 defeat with 11 wins and 3 draws under the belt. PSG is now 4 points ahead of the second-place OGC Nice and 6 points from AS Monaco, which not so long ago they smashed in their home walls (5:2). 

Testament to the success of the Parisians in the championship is their amazing performance in the form of 38 goals scored, which is the best indicator of the championship so far. Let’s not forget about the vanguard of the attack — Kylian Mbappé, who is now expectedly leading the list of Ligue 1 scorers with a big gap of 8 goals from his pursuer, having scored 15 goals and giving 2 assists. The striker is in great form. Relatively recently he broke the record of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Jr. Kylian has scored 300 career goals in all competitions at the age of 24. Nevertheless, PSG now have only the 3rd rate in the league in goals conceded (12), this is something that can be used by the fast-leg counterattacking Bumblebees, who can afford to make a clear emphasis on defense – they have nowhere to rush, time and the tournament situation plays on them.

Despite Mbappe’s efforts, the Parisians are situated only in second place in the Champions League Group H. And it is a shaky ground now as the intrigue and competitiveness are extremely high there. Apart from Borussia, they beat only AC Milan (3:0). They lost to Newcastle (1:4) and Rossoneri (1:2). Enrique’s men also drew with the Magpies (1:1), and the Parisians were saved from defeat in the last meeting with Newcastle not without luck. Indeed, they attacked much sharper and made as many as 31 strikes. However, they managed to equalize only in the 98th minute after a controversial penalty was awarded. Approximately the same scenario was observed in the match of the 15th round of the French championship against Nantes. Will Parisians’ conversion rate let them down this time? The statistical trends suggest some positivity for the Frenchmen here: the Red-and-Blues have scored at least 1 goal in the last 12 matches, which could be just enough against the upcoming opponent. 

What will help the current setup is a comfortable position in Ligue 1 due to the current series of 8 victories and, accordingly, the opportunity to focus all their energies on the upcoming match without any expense. It’s no secret that success in the Champions League is the main goal of Parisians, and this tournament is the basis for PSG’s success evaluation.

For a smooth progression, the team of the Spanish specialist needs to gain all 3 points. A win will guarantee not only an appearance in the 1/8, but also the first line in the table. For what it is to go into the playoffs from the second line PSG knows well on the example of last season, when they were immediately faced with Bayern, which made the stay of the French in the tournament very short. However, after two defeats away from Newcastle and Milan, it seems that the Parisians will be happy with any result in Dortmund, which will give them the right to play in the playoffs. With a draw in the parallel meeting, even a defeat will not prevent Enrique’s team from achieving what they want. However, a three-match losing streak away in the Champions League does not add to PSG, who have not scored a single victory outside the Parc des Princes since October 2020. But four consecutive European away matches the Parisians have never lost before. Oh, and PSG have lost only one of their five previous matches against Dortmund.

Borussia Dortmund form guide: L-W-W-D-L-L

Paris Saint-Germain form guide: L-W-W-D-W-W

Borussia Dortmund vs Paris Saint-Germain Head-To-Head Record:

• 19.09.23 PSG vs Borussia Dortmund (2:0);
• 12.03.20 PSG vs Borussia Dortmund (2:0);
• 19.02.20 Borussia Dortmund vs PSG (2:1);
• 04.11.10 PSG vs Borussia Dortmund (0:0);
• 20.10.10 Borussia Dortmund vs PSG (1:1).

Borussia Dortmund vs Paris Saint-Germain Predicted XI:

Borussia Dortmund’s possible starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Sule, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Sabitzer, Ozcan; Reus, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Fullkrug.

Paris Saint-Germain’s possible starting lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Skriniar, Hernandez; Lee, Ugarte, Vitinha; Barcola, Kolo Muani, Mbappe.

Statistical preview of the match Borussia Dortmund vs Paris Saint-Germain:

• BVB’s First XI average age is 26.1 years, while PSG’s First XI average age is 25.7 years.
• The total value of the Borussia squad is €466.60, while Paris SG’s total is 1.07 billion euros.
• Only in 2 of the last 5 head-to-head matches, both teams have scored. And only 1 time they had a total of more than 2 goals; 
• Glenn Nyberg will be the referee for the match. He has officiated 5 matches this season so far. Average total for Yellow Cards shown – 2.8, fouls whistled per 90 – 22.4.
• On average, Borussia earns 1.73 cautions per match this season. At PSG this indicator is – 1.8.
• Eight of PSG’s last ten matches have seen at least three goals scored; 
• Parisians have opened the scoring nine times in their last ten appearances, while going into the break as winners eight times in their last ten meetings;
• Luis Enrique’s side have lost only once in their last 10 matches, while winning eight meetings; 
• PSG have scored ~2 goals in the last 5 meetings; 
• The Red-and-Blues have score at least 1 goal in the last 12 matches; 
• Both teams have scored in five of Borussia Dortmund’s last six outings; 
• Dortmund are winless in their last 3 matches.

What has been said before the match:

Edin Terzić:

“This has been an exciting group, and it will be until the end. Tomorrow’s match will be about finding the right mix and supporting each other. This is the only way to force opponents to do things they don’t want to. Paris needs to win but they will know that we also want to.”

Luis Enrique:

“We want a win in Dortmund to finish top of the group. The big clubs always play big matches, and I am in constant communication with our president over our objectives. I like to focus on the positives and what I see is that in a difficult group we still have destiny in our hands. If we take things negatively we will have problems.”

Borussia Dortmund vs Paris Saint-Germain Prediction:

The Parisians are looking pretty assertive based on their recent run of form, being unbeaten for 5 consecutive matches already, winning 4 times. What can not be said about the Prussians, who are winless in their 3 most recent outings. In the last 2 face-to-face matches PSG beat Borussia and a 3rd win looks like a realistic expectation. 

For the Parisians the situation in Group H is close to critical, which means they are only going to play to win, the class of the players will be instrumental. By and large, the upcoming game does not matter much for the home team, they have to deal with the Bundesliga situation. While the visitors can say goodbye to playing in the most prestigious club tournament in case of a misfire. Luis Enrique’s charges will take to the pitch quite motivated and will be able to please their fans with a positive result, even despite the boisterous stands of the Black and Yellows. At the same time, the game is unlikely to please with high productivity: both teams in their recent matches do not shine with efficiency, and in 5 played face-to-face meetings never scored more than 3 goals per game.

Parimatch News staff prediction:
We say: PSG will win and the match total will be less than 3.5 – Yes.