Dortmund vs Ath Bilbao prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-09-30 19:00.
[p]Borussia Dortmund and Athletic Bilbao both look for a resurgent result after matchday one disappointments as they meet at Signal Iduna Park in the second round of UEFA Champions League (UCL) league phase games. [/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Borussia Dortmund head into matchday two on the back of a fourth straight Bundesliga win without reply as they attempt to keep the pressure on champions Bayern. Such defensive prowess is yet to be seen on the continental stage as Dortmund frustratingly allowed a 4-2 lead to slip in second-half stoppage time to draw 4-4 against Juventus in the opening UCL round. Such an outcome was highly unusual for the Germans, who played out the entire league phase without a draw last season (W5, L3), and they’ll hope to be back among the wins at home, where they’ve lost only once in their last 18 UCL games (W11, D6). [/p]
[p]Athletic Club are next to try and crack Dortmund’s resistance at home, but as they travel on the back of a five-match winless run in competitive action (D1, L4), including a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal to kick off their first UCL proper campaign since 2014/15, confidence must be nearing an all-time low. Visiting manager Ernesto Valverde may expect more from this trip despite his side’s outsider status, both due to his solid record across his last 31 UCL games in management (W20, D8, L3), and the fact he’s never overseen consecutive defeats in the competition since losing three in a previous spell with Athletic in 2014. [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]These sides have never met before, but this is Dortmund’s 17th home encounter against Spanish opposition (W7, D6, L3). Athletic may put that record under strain as they travel here on the back of six straight unbeaten European clashes against German sides (W4, D2). [/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Dortmund manager Niko Kovač has never lost a UCL group/league phase game (W7, D3). [/p]
[p]Eight of Dortmund’s last nine UCL league phase games saw over 2.5 goals.[/p]
[p]Athletic have scored exactly once in each of their last six away games in the UCL proper. [/p]
[p]Only one of Athletic’s five competitive games this season saw both teams score.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy has 15 goals from his first 19 UCL games, with five of the last six coming at home. Athletic midfielder Mikel Jauregizar scored his side’s only goal across five competitive games since the beginning of September and his last four club strikes have been team openers. [/p]
[p]Dortmund have no fresh injury concerns, while Athletic’s Álex Berenguer may miss this one with a toe injury. [/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Given the hosts’ tendency to play out high-scoring affairs, we’re backing Dortmund to win and both teams to score here. [/p]
[p][i]Author: Matthew Billon[/i][/p]