Champions League match preview: Dortmund look for rare away win in Zagreb

In this season 2024-25, the position has not mattered. From Madrid to Mainz, Borussia Dortmund have been downright abysmal away from their fortress home. Westfalenstadion. Winless in the Bundesliga, out of the Cup, and decimated by Real Madrid, Nuri Sahin’s men have been cool without the yellow wall behind them. Unfortunately, they will first have to try to overcome their away demons tomorrow in the Croatian capital against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League. As tepid as Dortmund’s start to the season has been, they have actually shown glimpses of the brilliance that BVB fans expect from their beloved club… but only at home.

While Dinamo waltzed to a Croatian league title last season, as they are historically used to doing, that hasn’t been the case this season. The perennial Croatian champions are not even second, but third, with a tame, by their standards, 7-4-3 domestic record. So far, their most notable moment of the season came when they were thoroughly steamrolled by Bayern Munich 9-2 in the opening matchweek of the Champions League.

Player to watch: Martin Baturina

Photo by Euan Cherry/Getty Images

Dinamo Zagreb has a history of producing top-level Croatian talent and there is a young man making noise right now that has the transfer tabloids dubbing him, perhaps a bit optimistic and premature,”next Luka Modric.” Although he has a long way to go before he can live up to that designation, he is at least attracting interest from big clubs in Spain and England.

The comparison with Modric goes beyond his nationality. Baturina is the textbook example of a highly skilled attacking midfielder. He is an exceptional chance creator with one goal and 5 assists in 804 league minutes. Watching him reminds a little bit not only of his Croatian compatriot Modric, but of BVB’s own Julian Brandt.

Expected lineup

As much as Dortmund could use a morale boost in the form of an away win, Nuri Sahin must also consider the looming shadow of Der Klassiker looming this weekend. He will then have to balance this rotation while still missing several key players due to injuries.

I would like Jamie Gittens to start against Bayern and because he played almost 80 minutes on Saturday I wouldn’t mind giving Julien Duranville the start against Dinamo. Serhou Guirassy missed the Freiburg game with an infection and I suspect Sahin will keep him out as a precaution just to make sure he is 100% fit against Bayern Munich though Ruhr Nachrichten reports that he is healthy and training with the team. I also have Pascal Groß rotating in for Marcel Sabitzer.

Prediction of scores

Can BVB finally win away from home?