Borussia Dortmund is having a fairytale season in both the domestic league and the Champions League. They are close to the quarter-finals, as they need just a draw to qualify. This is a must-win game for Chelsea, and they would be looking to make it two wins in a row.
Graham Potter’s team got a much-needed win over Leeds to end their three-game losing streak. Chelsea would be looking to make their home advantage count as they aim to make a comeback win against Dortmund.
Dortmund continued their fine run, extending their winning streak to 12 games this year. They were close to getting a win over Manchester City the last time they faced an English team away from home.
| Tournament: | UEFA Champions League 2022/23, Round of 16 |
| Venue: | Stamford Bridge, London, England |
| Date: | 7 March 2023 |
| Time: | 8:00 p.m. GMT on Tuesday |
Chelsea is the favorite to win the game in normal regulation time at 1.91 (10/11), while Dortmund is the underdog at 4.00 (3/1). A draw result in 90 minutes is valued at 3.60 (13/5) by the football bookies.
Due to Dortmund’s advantage in the first leg, the odds for qualification are different. The Black and Yellow are the favorites to go through to the next round at 1.73 (8/11), while Chelsea is priced at 2.25 (5/4) to reach the quarter-finals.
Chelsea had a good outing in the group stage of the Champions League, finishing top of their group ahead of AC Milan, RB Salzburg, and Dinamo Zagreb. They are still unbeaten at home in this competition, with two wins in three games at Stamford Bridge. However, Chelsea has not been at their best after the group stages and must win this game to give themselves a chance to play in the next round.
Dortmund won only two out of six games in the group stage of the Champions League, but that was enough for them to finish second behind Manchester City. The BVB are on their best run of the season, and that earned them an advantage in the first leg. Dortmund still has work to do in this game, but they would fancy their chances against a poor Chelsea team.
Last week’s meeting was the first competitive match between Chelsea and Dortmund. The Black and Yellow would be hoping to maintain their perfect record when they play at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea: WLLLD
Dortmund: WWWWW
The Germans head into this game with a one-goal advantage, but that could be all they need to get past a poor Chelsea team. No team in Europe has performed better than Dortmund in 2023. The BVB have won all their games this year with 12 consecutive wins and are competing for all trophies this season, including a tie race vs Bayern Munich in Bundesliga.
Chelsea managed to get past Leeds last week in what was their first win in seven games. The Blues are far from their best, and they sit 10th in the English Premier League. Chelsea’s attack has also been subpar, and it would be difficult for them to get past a free-scoring Dortmund team. A bet on Dortmund to qualify is the best available option in this game.
Two of Chelsea’s home games in the group stage of the UCL saw both teams get on the score sheet; a 1-1 draw against RB Salzburg and a 2-1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb. For all of Graham Potter’s troubles, his side still has enough quality to be able to score at home in this game. Dortmund is a great attacking team, and the last time they failed to score in a competitive game was as far back as November 2022. Backing both teams to score has one of the best odds for Champions League betting.
Chelsea has a curious statistic that shows that they perform better in the first half than after the break. Most of their goals this season have come in the first 45 minutes, and they are barely scoring in the second half. In their last 24 games in all competitions, Chelsea has never scored more than a goal in the second half, and in their last seven games, the Blues have not scored a goal in the second half. Backing Chelsea to continue this trend at 1.45 is a very good option.
Chelsea has a long list of absentees, and Graham Potter’s options are quite limited, which negatively impacted their race in the Premier League this year. N’Golo Kante has resumed training, but he is still lacking match fitness and isn’t expected to feature. Thiago Silva and Edouard Mendy are not expected back in the squad till next month.
Karim Adeyemi picked up a hamstring injury a few weeks ago and is a big miss for Borussia Dortmund. Donyell Malen, Youssoufa Moukoko, and Gregor Kobel are other important absentees for Borussia Dortmund. Sebastian Haller was rested against RB Leipzig and is expected to lead the line on Tuesday.
The UEFA Champions League games are back this week with interesting offers to bet. You can get the best out of this game by using our UCL betting tips and predictions.
