Tuesday, October 18, 2011

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19.10. (Wed) 20:45 Olympiakos - Borussia D.

SV Werder Bremen v Borussia Dortmund - Bundesliga, Ivan Perisic
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 PROBABLE LINEUPS

OLYMPIAKOS

Costanzo
Modesto, Papadopoulos, Mellberg, Holebas
Orbaiz, Makoun
Mirallas, Ibagaza, Abdoun
Djebbour
DORTMUND
 
Weidenfeller
Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Lowe
Bender, Gundogan
Grosskreutz, Gotze, Perisic
Lewandowski
Dortmund's Patrick Owomoyela sustained a groin strain on Friday and will be missing, although Lukas Piszczek will be available to take over for the veteran in his usual post at right-back. Marcel Schmelzer faces a race to be fit, but Chris Lowe is tipped to get the nod in his stead. Finally, Lucas Barrios was forced to withdraw from the BVB squad on Tuesday due to a calf strain.

Jurgen Klopp will have a selection headache as he decides on a number of positions. Any two of Shinji Kagawa, Kevin Grosskreutz, and Ivan Perisic could start along with Mario Gotze in attack, while either Ilkay Gundogan or Sebastian Kehl will be chosen to partner Sven Bender in defensive midfield.

For the hosts, David Fuster will be missing after fracturing a rib on Saturday. He will join fellow absentee Fran Yeste in the stands. There are also question marks over the availability of Ljubomir Fejsa, Vasilis Torosidis, and Giannis Fetfatzidis, who have all had injuries in recent weeks.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Olympiakos are in a five-way tie for first place in the Greek Super League, with 10 points from four matches.
  • Marko Pantelic is the Greek outfit's most prolific scorer in Uefa club competitions, having scored 14 goals in 39 appearances.
  • Tuesday's hosts have not kept a clean sheet in six matches in all competitions this season.
  • Dortmund's worst-ever Champions League defeat came in their most recent match, a 3-0 loss to Marseille.
  • BVB have not won a Champions League match since October 30, 2002, when they beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Westfalenstadion.
  • The German champions have never faced Greek opposition in Uefa club competition.

Prediction
It's do-or-die for both teams entering matchday three, and although the Greeks will have the advantage of playing on their own home soil, Dortmund are expected to find their scoring touch at long last and take thier first victory of the Champions League.
Editor's Prediction
Olympiakos Piraeus 0-1 Borussia Dortmund