UEFA Champions League preview: Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund, Spurs begin quest in tough group

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Bengaluru, September 12: North London giants Tottenham Hotspur begin a tough Champions League group by hosting Borussia Dortmund knowing their form at Wembley will be crucial to their progression.

With Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Spurs in the same group, one of the heavyweights will have to bid an early goodbye to the competition and considering Spurs’ poor record in Europe make them favourites for that and that will something which will concern Pochettino.

Mauricio Pochettino’s are winless at their temporary home Wembley after two games this season and won just one of four games last term, against CSKA Moscow when their elimination was already confirmed.

Last year, Spurs failed to go through the group stage where there also were CSKA Moscow, Bayer Leverkusen and Monaco but this year, their group is even tougher and Pochettino will be looking for a victory against Dortmund in order to advance from such a tricky group.

Team news

Tottenham

Combative midfielder Victor Wanyama remains out with a knee injury but Mousa Dembele could return to the starting line-up on Wednesday.

The Belgian made a cameo appearance in the win over Everton, with Mauricio Pochettino previously admitted Dembele struggles to play three times in a week.

Elsewhere, Spurs have no fresh injury concerns beyond Moussa Sissoko suffering a knock at Goodison Park.

Borussia Dortmund

Dortmund captain Marcel Schmelzer and defender Marc Bartra are not expected to feature after suffering injuries at the weekend.

Schmelzer will now be sidelined for "around six weeks", while Bartra is a doubt for the Group H opener with a muscular problem in his leg.

Dortmund are already without the likes of Marco Reus, Raphael Guerreiro, Andre Schurrle, Erik Durm and Sebastian Rode.

Predicted lineups

Tottenham (3-4-2-1): Lloris; Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen; Trippier, Dier, Dembele, Davies; Eriksen, Dele; Kane

Borussia Dortmund (4-3-2-1): Burki; Piszczek, Sokratis, Toprak, Zagadou; Castro, Sahin, Gotze; Pulisic, Philipp; Aubameyang

The live telecast in India will be on Sony Ten 3 / Ten 3HD on Thursday (September 14) at 12:15 AM IST.