After the excitement of this past weekend’s Der Klassiker, Dortmund now resume a difficult Champions League campaign as Real Betis come to town. Betis snuck into the Champions League after LaLiga earned one of the two coveted European Performance Spots. Despite a 21-year hiatus from the UCL, Betis look like they belong. Manuel Pellegrini’s side are one of seven undefeated teams after winning their first three matches against Lille, Porto, and Feyenoord. Betis’s LaLiga form is just as impressive: they sit fourth on 23 points, just four shy of Real Madrid in third. Expect a tough fight for Dortmund today. Real Betis are eager to notch a marquee victory and prove they can finish in the top eight.

For Borussia Dortmund, it’s about proving they belong in the knockout rounds. Kovač’s men sit 16th in the UCL table and have been unimpressive so far. Today’s home fixture is a chance to turn things around. Another highlight of today’s match is the return of a familiar face: Marc Bartra. Bartra spent only a season and a half in Dortmund before moving to Betis, but he quickly became a fan favorite. The 35-year-old will likely start in Betis’s back line and has already scored four goals this season!

Getty Images

Getty Images

With Columbus Crew legend Cucho Hernández out injured, Isco will be Betis’s main attacking threat. The 34-year-old captains the side and plays as a roaming creator behind Troy Parrott. Isco will aim to pull the strings and win the midfield battle against Nmecha, Veerman, or Jobe. He has two goals, one assist, and a pretty epic man bun in the UCL this season.

Dortmund actually played with a back four for long stretches against Bayern, with Gadou as a very defensive right-back. I expect Kovač to return to a back three, with Schlotterbeck, Anton, and Gadou reprising their roles. Ryerson will likely start on the right, with Svensson, whom I foolishly nominated for MOTM last match, on the left. Jobe and Veerman should start in midfield, with the returning Karetsas providing creativity behind Silva and Guirassy.

I’m not sure whether the intense draw against Bayern will sap Dortmund’s energy or fire them up, so I’m predicting something in between: Dortmund build a two-goal lead in the first half, then concede twice in the closing stages.