Guirassy Leads Dortmund into UEFA Clash with Lille

DORTMUND, Germany — Serhou Guirassy, the UEFA Champions League‘s top scorer, aims to extend his goal tally as Borussia Dortmund faces Lille in the Round of 16 first leg at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday. Kick-off is set for 9 p.m. CET.

Guirassy, who previously played for Lille, has been a pivotal figure for Dortmund, scoring 10 goals in the Champions League so far this season. With his current form, the Guinean forward hopes to inflict damage on his former club.

Dortmund enters the match with confidence, having recently changed coaches to Niko Kovač, who has overseen three wins and four clean sheets in his last five games. “We’re more compact now and conceding fewer chances,” Kovač stated, reflecting on his team’s defensive improvements.

The match comes after Dortmund’s strong showing against Sporting Lisbon in the playoffs, where they triumphed 3-0 on aggregate. Despite a rocky start to the Bundesliga season, the Black-Yellows are optimistic about their European campaign.

Lille, on the other hand, struggled against Paris Saint-Germain over the weekend, suffering a 4-1 defeat. Coach Bruno Genésio emphasized the need for resilience and focus in their push against Dortmund. “The essence of our job is to know how to bounce back after defeats,” Genésio commented.

Both teams are looking to advance further in the tournament. Dortmund and Lille have played each other only twice before, in 2002, with both matches finishing in draws. Historian Patrick Heller reflected that, “The matches have always been competitive, and we can expect more excitement tonight.”

The starting eleven for Dortmund features Kobel, Ryerson, Can (c), Schlotterbeck, Svensson, Sabitzer, Groß, Adeyemi, Brandt, Gittens, and Guirassy. Lille counters with Chevalier, Meunier, Diakité, Alexsandro, Ismaily, Mukau, André (c), Bouaddi, Mbappe, Haraldsson, and David.

Guirassy’s scoring prowess is complemented by a fruitful partnership with Pascal Groß, who has praised the striker’s impact this season. “He knows how to find the net from various positions and distances,” noted Groß.

As the teams lined up at the stadium, the atmosphere was electric, with Dortmund fans eager to support their squad. The iconic Yellow Wall, known for creating an intense atmosphere, was set to play a crucial role in motivating the home team.

The stage is set for an enthralling match as both Borussia Dortmund and Lille seek to establish an advantage in the first leg of this knockout tie.