Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal – Match preview and team news

Borussia Dortmund aims to secure a fourth consecutive win this season as they face Villarreal in their inaugural UEFA Champions League encounter on Tuesday at Signal Iduna Park. The match will take place on September 8th at 8pm BST. Dortmund manager Niko Kovač is dealing with a significant defensive crisis, as several key players are unavailable due to injury or suspension.

Young defender Filippo Mané is sidelined with a thigh injury, while Ramy Bensebaini serves a red card suspension and Nico Schlotterbeck is banned due to a recent ankle injury. Emre Can and Giannis Konstantelias, both recovering from serious knee and ACL injuries, are also absent, along with Justin Lerma, who is sidelined with a muscle issue.

Despite these setbacks, Daniel Svensson and Konstantinos Karetsas are fully fit and ready to play, with Waldemar Anton set to form a defensive trio alongside goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

Villarreal, managed by Íñigo Pérez, enters the match with a healthier squad but faces its own challenges. Argentine defender Juan Foyth and left-back Carlos Romero are both in doubt due to muscle issues and physical discomfort, respectively. Nonetheless, Villarreal will rely on the offensive prowess of Gerard Moreno and Georges Mikautadze, who form a potent attacking duo.

With a strong home record of 16 goals in their last six fixtures, Dortmund has started the season strongly under Kovač's leadership. Villarreal, on the other hand, has struggled with a winless start in La Liga, suffering back-to-back defeats.