Die Schwarzgelben face off against El Submarino Amarillo in a match that will decide which team has the better shade of yellow. Villarreal, named after the iconic Beatles song due to their bright yellow jerseys
and substandard profile, are visiting the Westfalenstadion for Match day 5 in the Champions League. It has been an interesting season for both teams. Villarreal currently find themselves third in La Liga with the joint best defense and third best offense in the league. Marcelino Garcia’s third year in charge has seen the club solidify their status amongst La Liga’s top teams and have an outside chance at their first ever La Liga title. Their Champions League form is quite different, however. Villarreal are currently in 32nd place with only 1 point, a 2-2 draw against Juventus, and are well outside of the playoff spots. While their losses against Tottenham Hotspor and Manchester City are nothing to laugh at, a recent 1-0 defeat to Pafos FC paint Borussia Dortmund as the favorites.
Borussia Dortmund and Niko Kovac enter the game in a critical junction. Three back-to-back-to-back games without a win have painted Kovac into a corner as public opinion surrounding the coach has changed. Is it overblown? Absolutely. Could a loss against Villarreal be critical for Kovac’s tenure? Yes. It’s difficult to diagnose what’s wrong at Dortmund right now but morale is certainly low. A win against Villarreal could right the ship.
Player to Watch: Gerard Moreno
Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal’s similarities don’t just end at the color of their jerseys. The Spanish side is also very pragmatic. Villarreal are more than happy to give up possession to ensure their defense remains compact. The bad news for Dortmund – Villarreal’s striker is reliable. Club captain Gerard Moreno is clinical. Despite only 370 minutes and 2 xG, the Spaniard has 4 goals. He only returned to the field at the end of October but has a goal in each of his last four games and will be looking to net his first Champions League goal this season. The other player to watch is 22-year-old Alberto Moleiro on the left wing. He’ll be looking to add to his tally (also 4 goals) and create behind Dortmund’s left wing-back.
Predicted Lineup 3-4-2-1
It’s difficult task to predict tomorrow’s lineup. On one hand, Dortmund’s poor form signals that maybe it’s time for a change; personal or tactical. On the other hand, it seems too early to hit the panic button or shake the boat. I’m expecting some minor changes. Despite giving up three goals, I’m expecting the defense to remain the same. It is difficult to point to any specific issues in the defense so Nico Schlotterbeck, Emre Can, and Waldemar Anton should start in front of Gregor Kobel. Daniel Svensson should retake his left wing-back position despite Maximilian Beier’s great performance over the weekend. Dortmund need more creativity and I expect Yan Couto to take Ryerson’s start with Felix Nmecha and Marcel Sabitzer in midfield. Beier should be rewarded for his good form and Guirassy should be punished for his poor form. Expect a front three of Julian Brandt (meh) behind Beier and Fabio Silva.
Your Thoughts?
Are Dortmund in a spiral? Which team has the better shade of yellow?
