Paris SG vs Dortmund prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-09-18 19:00.
After letting a number of star players leave this summer – including Lionel Messi, Neymar and Marco Verratti – PSG have hardly kicked off 2023/24 in style. An embarrassing 3-2 home defeat to Nice over the weekend made it just two wins from their opening five Ligue 1 matches (D2, L1), a string of results that have already put new manager Luis Enrique under pressure.
The Spanish boss will be hoping that the UEFA Champions League (UCL) will serve as a welcome distraction, even if the French champions have largely flattered to deceive in this competition lately with consecutive Round of 16 exits. At Parc des Princes they normally perform well at least, winning six of their last eight European matches at this venue (D1, L1) which could prove key against Borussia Dortmund.
Visiting Dortmund enjoyed an impressive 4-2 victory on the road against Freiburg this weekend as they extended their unbeaten Bundesliga streak to start the campaign to four matches (W2, D2). Despite giving up another lead, manager Edin Terzic was happy to see “a big impact with the players coming on” which will have helped to boost confidence after they squandered a 2-0 lead to draw at home to newly-promoted Heidenheim just before the international break.
The UCL hasn’t been kind to Dortmund in recent seasons, with the former winners not progressing past the quarter-final stage since their runners-up finish back in 2012/13. In another tough group this campaign alongside PSG, Milan and Newcastle, a quick start is needed here, but their record of one win from their last six UCL away matches (D1, L4) suggests that’s not likely.
Players to watch: Kylian Mbappé netted both of PSG’s goals against Nice this weekend and already sits 19th on the UCL goal scorers list, with five of his seven UCL goals last season coming at home. Dortmund’s Donyell Malen has started this season in good form, netting four goals in five outings, whilst two of his prior three UCL goals have come as match openers.
Hot streak: None of Dortmund’s 14 UCL matches against French opposition have ended level (W8, L6).