Preview: Dortmund v Galatasaray
Monday, November 3, 2014
Article summary
Borussia Dortmund look to put domestic travails behind them as they return to their favoured European stage, but Galatasaray AŞ are set to throw everything at them.
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Article body
• Jürgen Klopp says his side are on the right track after domestic disappointment
• Dortmund have suffered five successive Bundesliga defeats and are 17th• BVB have won three out of three in Group D; Galatasaray have a point
• Mats Hummels and Nuri Şahin ruled out for Dortmund
• Felipe Melo trains for second day running after thigh strain
Possible lineups
Dortmund: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Subotić, Papastathopoulos, Durm; Gündoğan, Bender; Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan, Reus; Immobile.
• Out: Hummels (foot), Şahin (knee), Sarr (shin), Ji (knee)
• Doubtful: Schmelzer (match fitness), Kirch (match fitness), Błaszczykowski (match fitness)
Galatasaray: Muslera; Tarık Çamdal, Semih Kaya, Chedjou, Alex Telles; Felipe Melo, Selçuk İnan; Hamit Altıntop, Sneijder; Burak, Bulut.
• Out: Aydın Yılmaz (foot)
• Doubtful: Felipe Melo (thigh)
Jürgen Klopp, Dortmund coach
We showed some improvement against Bayern, even if we didn't quite get the result. We will try to get a result tomorrow and work on our movement on the pitch. We anticipate a strong Galatasaray side aiming to dramatically improve their situation in the group. With three points, they will throw the group wide open and we want to prevent that. They will be confident after recent league performances.
At decisive times in the Bundesliga, we have not scored goals. We are creating enough opportunities. It is one of the hardest things to explain in football: why are you taking chances at one moment and squandering them in the other? We are not making as many mistakes now, but obviously we have made more of them in the Bundesliga than in the Champions League. Players have returned from the sidelines, which helps. We are working on defending together and attacking together. It sounds simple enough.
There were games where we were clearly the better side but lost down to two individual mistakes, conceded two goals and did not take our plentiful chances. But we have put in bad performances as well, without creating enough opportunities. I am far from saying: 'What else are we supposed to do? Everything is going against us.' We make mistakes and are not sharp enough in finishing. It's as easy as that. There are things we can improve on and we have to work on that.
Cesare Prandelli, Galatasaray coach
Once more, we are up against one of the strongest teams in the Champions League. We want to show that we are highly motivated and can play a positive and successful match. We must be aggressive and focused. We will look for space and try to score goals. I hope we will be focused enough to do so when it comes to it.
We all have to give our all, be aggressive, play for the team and impose our game. We must not be too attacking, nor defend too much. It will be important to find the right balance. We will think of the 25 million fans behind us and try to build on the good times Galatasaray had. We will give everything to make our fans happy. They will see another team tomorrow, a team which gives a lot.
Weekend results
FC Bayern München 2-1 Dortmund (Lewandowski 72, Robben 85pen; Reus 31)
Galatasaray 2-1 Kasımpaşa AŞ (Burak Yılmaz 53, Umut Bulut 90+1; Adem 41)
Form guide (all competitions)
Dortmund: LWLWLL
Galatasaray: WLLWWL
Match facts
• Which Galatasaray player was born in Dortmund? Find out in our extensive match background.