(Football news) The first leg of the match ended in a 1-1 draw three weeks ago in the Netherlands, with Luuk de Jong’s second-half penalty nulling out an early goal by former PSV player Donyell Malen. Now, the tie is evenly balanced.

Dortmund lost 3-2 to Hoffenheim at home five days after splitting the championship with PSV. However, they have subsequently recovered to win two straight away from home against Werder Bremen and Union Berlin.

Last weekend, BVB defeated Bremen 2-1 despite fielding 10 players, thanks to goals in the first half from Malen and Jadon Sancho, the latter of whom scored his first goal since returning to the team on loan from Manchester United. BVB had earlier secured a comfortable 2-0 victory in Berlin. 

The dismissal of Marcel Sabitzer on the stroke of half time allowed Bremen back into the game, with Justin Njinmah reducing the deficit 20 minutes from time, but Dortmund held on to claim all three points and remain fourth in the Bundesliga table, just one point above fifth-placed RB Leipzig with nine games remaining.

Edin Terzic’s side now turn their attention to their sixth Champions League knockout campaign in eight seasons, but only once in the last six years have they advanced to the quarter-finals. However, BVB have progressed from their last five knockout ties in the competition when they have avoided defeat in an away first leg.

The German outfit head into Wednesday’s second leg following an indifferent run of form on home soil, having come out on top in only four of their last nine matches at Westfalenstadion in all competitions, but they are unbeaten in their last eight Champions League home games, which bodes well ahead of the visit of PSV.

PSV has seven points from three Eredivisie games after drawing the first leg against Dortmund. They finished last weekend with a narrow 1-0 triumph away against Go Ahead Eagles, capping off a decisive 7-1 victory at PEC Zwolle and a 2-2 home draw with Feyenoord.

PSV’s 80th top-flight goal in their 25th game of the season was scored by Sergino Dest in the 10th minute of the fiercely contested match. With the win, the Red and Whites were able to continue their stunning unbeaten league record and their 10-point lead over second-place Feyenoord at the summit.

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