Borussia Dortmund vs PSV Eindhoven

Signal Iduna Park sets the stage for the return leg of an evenly-poised Champions League last-16 tie between Borussia Dortmund and PSV Eindhoven. A 1-1 first-leg draw leaves a quarter-final berth up for grabs.

Despite avoiding defeat in the Netherlands, Borussia Dortmund’s progression into the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2020/21 is not a foregone conclusion by any stretch of the imagination. Edin Terzic’s men have blown hot and cold across their last six home outings across all competitions (W2, D2, L2), making the Signal Iduna Park faithful await this contest with trepidation. On the bright side, the Germans haven’t lost a home match in any of their last two Champions League campaigns (W3, D4), increasing the likelihood of overcoming PSV in this tie. The hosts have timed their return to form to perfection, going from a three-game winless run in all competitions (D2, L1) to back-to-back Bundesliga victories, consolidating their place in a fierce battle for a top-four finish.

As for PSV, last weekend’s narrow 1-0 victory at Go Ahead Eagles maintained their ten-point lead at the top of the Eredivisie table. More importantly, that was their eighth consecutive game without a loss in all competitions (W5, D3), boosting Peter Bosz’s hopes of taking down his former employers. Losing just two of 38 competitive fixtures (W29, D8) sets PSV’s bid to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2006/07 nicely. But despite beating sub-par rivals in three consecutive away contests ahead of this trip, the Peasants can’t afford to rest on their laurels, knowing they had struggled on high-profile travels at the start of the year. Winless trips to face Ajax, Utretcht, and Feyenoord (D2, L1) serve as a stark reminder they must keep their feet firmly on the ground.