(Football news) Both clubs are on 12 points from their opening five games and are highly fancied to progress directly to the last 16 via finishing in the top eight.
After a routine 3-0 win away in Croatia against Dinamo Zagreb on matchday five to extend their brilliant start in Europe, Dortmund have not won since.
Back-to-back 1-1 draws in the Bundesliga against Bayern Munich and Borussia Monchengladbach leave Dortmund sixth in the Bundesliga, lagging behind in the race for the Champions League places, and 12 points off the Bavarians at the top.
The draw with Bayern ended their 100% start at home, but that remains a phenomenal run of results here under manager Nuri Sahin, with eight wins from their opening nine at the Westfalenstadion this season.
In general, BVB have been very impressive in the Champions League, and they now have the opportunity to win five of their first six matches in the competition since 1997, when they were reigning champions.
Attacking prowess has been the driving factor behind their strong start, with Dortmund having scored 16 goals in their opening five, meaning only Thomas Tuchel and upcoming opponent’s manager Hansi Flick have seen their team score more in their first five matches as Champions League managers than Sahin.
A thrashing of Celtic and a more narrow victory against Sturm Graz have maintained their 100% winning start in this competition at home, but that will be put to the test greatly here.
Dortmund are winless in their four previous meetings with Barcelona; they have never faced an opponent more times in European competition without tasting victory.
Spanish clubs in general have proven problematic, considering Sahin’s men have already suffered a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Real Madrid this season, extending their run of games without a clean sheet to nine against teams from the country.
While this represents Dortmund’s hardest fixture on paper out of their final three, Barcelona face more tough assignments in January, hosting Atalanta and travelling to Benfica, with only one of their five games so far coming against a side who were seeded in the top two pots.
Form has also slipped slightly for Flick’s men after early-season signs suggested they could compete for a league and European double.
A 2-2 draw with Real Betis on Saturday, throwing the lead away twice, means Barca have now won just two of their last six games, allowing Real and Atletico Madrid to close the gap at the La Liga summit.
In Europe, the Catalan club have remained consistent though, and recorded a 3-0 win over Brest last time out to maintain their position in the top eight.
Just a few days later though, Barca were beaten at home by Las Palmas, and have not played at Montjuic since, with this now being their third straight away games.
That should not deter them by any means though, considering they have scored 37 in their 13 away games this season, winning six games by three goals or more.
This is also an opportunity for Barca to win five straight UCL games for the first time in four years, and they will look to their forward line for inspiration, considering they have scored at least three goals in all of those four previous wins.
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