BORUSSIA DORTMUND v AC MILAN: OPPONENT REVIEW

After the 0-0 draw against Newcastle in the Rossoneri's first match of the 2023/24 Champions League, AC Milan are off to Borussia Dortmund in a match that already promises to be vital in the Rossoneri's European journey this season. After the 2-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the opener, Terzić's team will be looking for all three points to overtake the Rossoneri in the standings, who are currently tied on points with the Magpies. The Gialloneri, fourth in the Bundesliga and only 2 points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen, have registered two consecutive wins and could collect their third in all competitions for the first time since last May (against Wolfsburg, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Augsburg). 

Furthermore, Borussia Dortmund are unbeaten in their last 22 home games: 17 victories and 5 draws, with their last defeat coming on 20 August 2022 (2-3 against Werder Bremen in the German top flight). In particular, the Rhineland team have kept clean sheets in four of their last seven matches at home, including the last Bundesliga match against Wolfsburg (1-0, Reus). Finally, to further emphasize the quality of the Signal Iduna Park opposition, Borussia Dortmund have only lost one of their last fifteen Champions League group stage home matches (9W, 5D): 1-3 against Ajax in November 2021. 

POSSESSION MANAGEMENT AND THEN COUNTER-ATTACKS: DORTMUND SIMILAR TO AC MILAN
Borussia Dortmund tend to make the most of their players' dribbling and passing qualities, as well as quick counters towards the opponent's goal. Testament to this is the fact that the Gialloneri have averaged 60% possession so far in the Bundesliga, less than only Bayern Munich (62%), and have the fourth-best pass completion percentage in the opponent's half, (77.3%), after Bayer Leverkusen (84.9%), Bayern Munich (83.9%) and Stuttgart (80.1%). At the same time, however, the German team tend to expose themselves, especially in central areas: only Freiburg (15) have conceded more direct attacks than Dortmund (14) among teams in the German top division. 

AC Milan, on the other hand, are leaders in the number of vertical attacks (i.e. the number of sequences that start in their own area, have at least 50% forward movement and end with a shot or a touch in the opponent’s area): 20, at least two more than any other Serie A team. Furthermore, the Rossoneri are joint at the top of Serie A for most shots following a counter-attack with 5, together with Juventus and Inter. It promises to be a match with lightning-fast, continuous and alternating counters as well as frequent turnovers. 

MARCO REUS AND DONYELL MALEN: THE GIALLONERI'S WINGERS WITH AN EYE FOR GOAL
Despite the fact that he was subbed on in the first game against PSG, the Rossoneri rearguard will have to watch out for one player in the Gialloneri ranks in particular: Marco Reus. The German captain and third-best goalscorer in Borussia Dortmund's history in all competitions with 117 goals behind only Zorc (131) and Burgsmuller (135), has scored three goals this season and has found the net in his last two matches, both in the Bundesliga (against Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim). Moreover, the winger has already scored against two Italian teams in the Champions League: Juventus (in 2014/15) and Napoli (in 2013/14).

As well as the expert 34-year-old attacker, the AC Milan defence will have to keep an eye on Donyell Malen, top scorer for the German team in all competitions this season (4 goals) and looking for his first Champions League goal in 666 days (Borussia Dortmund 5-0 Besiktas on 7 December 2021). The threats come from the flanks, so doubling up with the fullbacks will be crucial. 

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