In the intimidating surroundings of the Westfalenstadion’s Yellow Wall, the tournament’s surprise package, Real Betis, will look to prove that their ambitions belong at the highest level, but they face a rival brimming with confidence.
Sooner or later, every team faces its toughest test. Tonight, Real Betis will go to one of the Champions League’s most historically difficult settings: the Westfalenstadion, home of Borussia Dortmund. The support of the Yellow Wall, one of the most fervent stands in world football, is always an exceptional source of energy for the Black and Yellows.
After fighting back to draw level with Bayern Munich in the German Klassiker, they now want to underline their strength in Europe as well.
They will have to do so against one of the in-form teams in the League Phase. The Spaniards have won all their European matches by a narrow margin so far, overcoming sides of the calibre of Lille, Porto and Feyenoord. That means tonight’s match will be a true test for one of the Bundesliga’s two leaders.
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Strength versus technique
For Betis, the trip to Germany represents a genuine coming-of-age test. The Andalusians have not beaten a German side in an official competition this century, recording two draws and two defeats.
Dortmund, meanwhile, have shown a clear attacking tendency at home in the Champions League, scoring at least twice in six of their last seven home games. All the ingredients are there for a major contest.
One intriguing statistic concerning the Spanish side in this competition is their tendency to strike after half-time. Six of their seven goals have come in the second half. Standing in their way, however, will be a well-drilled team shaped by Niko Kovac, who has found the right balance in a physical yet dynamic 4-3-3.
Its key reference points are Joey Veerman’s orchestration, Jobe Bellingham’s runs from midfield and the physical presence of Serhou Guirassy, the focal point of the attack.
At the other end, the green-and-whites will rely on Marc Roca’s positional intelligence as the central pivot, as well as the bursts down the flanks from Elzazzouli and Antony. Isco is ready to take control from midfield onwards. Troy Parrott, meanwhile, has found the ideal environment in Seville to express himself as a mobile centre-forward. He faces a stern test against a tough defence – one as formidable as the Yellow Wall.
A fiery previous meeting
When analysing the Andalusians’ positive form, it is impossible to overlook Manuel Pellegrini’s ideological and tactical influence. The Chilean coach, who won the English title with Manchester City in 2014, has reaped the rewards at the Guadalquivir of a career built on calm and wisdom.
While the German side rely more on dynamism and physical strength, the Iberians place greater emphasis on their players’ quality in possession.
Chief among them is Isco, the magician who frightened Dortmund in 2013 when, at little more than 20 years old, he was playing for Malaga. Pellegrini had taken that side all the way to the quarter-finals.
Deployed as a No. 10, Isco will look to avenge that previous meeting, when the Black and Yellows reached the Champions League semi-finals thanks to a goal from Santana after the 90th minute.
Among the many important games on today’s schedule, the most intriguing and evenly matched appears to be the Ruhr clash, where there will be no room for calculation. Kovac and Pellegrini have one thing in common: both prefer spectacle to speculation.