Newcastle United, currently sitting at the summit of their group table, are gearing up to welcome Borussia Dortmund to St James’ Park this Wednesday.
The Magpies have made quite the statement in European football. A resounding 4-1 triumph over French heavyweights PSG and a commendable draw against AC Milan in Italy speaks volumes. Back home in the Premier League, under Eddie Howe’s management, the team seems to have found their rhythm, best evidenced by their 4-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace over the weekend.
St James’ Park is fast becoming a daunting venue for visiting teams. The Magpies have celebrated five consecutive victories there, letting in just a solitary goal.
Meanwhile, Dortmund are finding the European stage challenging this season, having failed to score in their group games so far. While they lost 2-0 to PSG, they managed a draw against AC Milan. Their European struggles contrast their impressive Bundesliga form, where they recently secured their fifth consecutive victory by edging out Werder Bremen.
Having won against teams like Union Berlin, Hoffenheim, Wolfsburg, and Freiburg, it’s high time Dortmund brought their A-game to the Champions League.
Odds & Ends
The bookmakers are favouring Newcastle. Odds for a home win at 8/11. Those wishing to back the visiting Germans can do so at 4/1.
A Fresh Encounter
Interestingly, this is the maiden clash between these two footballing giants.
Players in the Spotlight
Alexander Isak has been a revelation for Newcastle. After a brief 20-minute appearance over the weekend, he’s expected to be raring to go. He’s pegged at 7/4 to score at any time during the match.
On the other side, age hasn’t dampened Marco Reus’ prowess. The 34-year-old German international has netted three times in six Bundesliga matches this season. Those fancying him to score can get odds of 4/1.
