Borussia Dortmund are chasing both a place in the Champions League’s knock-out phase and a confidence-boosting victory to remedy their dire domestic form when they host Galatasaray on Tuesday.
Dortmund have dazzled in Europe this season with an average of three goals per game to top Group D ahead of Arsenal with three straight wins and a perfect nine points.
Borussia have beaten Arsenal 2-0 at home, defeated Anderlecht 3-0 in Belgium, then downed Galatasaray 4-0 in Istanbul a fortnight ago.
A fourth consecutive win on Tuesday will confirm their place in the last 16.
The 2013 Champions League finalists’ European form contrasts sharply to their nightmare Bundesliga run where they have dropped into the relegation zone, struggling in 17th place after the worst start to a league season in the club’s history.
Dortmund have lost their last five domestic games after being beaten 2-1 by league leaders Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.
With nearly a third of the season gone, they are already 10 points from qualifying for a Champions League place next season, which demands a top-three finish.
To exacerbate matters, Dortmund host Galatasaray without captain Mats Hummels after the Germany centre-back suffered a sprained ankle in Munich.
His place in the back-four is likely to go to Neven Subotic, his replacement at Bayern.
The Serbia international says Dortmund desperately need a morale-boosting win as much as three more Champions League points before they host third-placed Borussia Monchengladbach next Sunday in the Bundesliga.
Subotic also has a point to prove on Tuesday as his two errors led to Bayern’s goals by Robert Lewandowski before he fouled Franck Ribery in the area for the late penalty which Arjen Robben converted.
“That is the next opportunity to show everyone that we can do better,” said Subotic.
“In the Bundesliga, our mission at Bayern failed because of two blunders from me.
“We need to regain some self-confidence for the home game against Borussia Monchengladbach next Sunday so we can hold our heads high.”
Group D bottom side Galatasaray warmed up for their trip to Germany by coming from behind to seal a 2-1 win at home to Kasimpasa on Friday, less than a week after the Turkish Super Lig leaders conceded four goals in a game for the third time this season when they lost 4-0 at Istanbul Basaksehir.
Cesare Prandelli-coached Galatasaray have an impressive record in Germany, winning as many games (five) as they have lost, with the other three fixtures ending in draws.
But the Turkish giants have just a point from their first three games and must win in Dortmund to keep alive their slim chances of repeating last year’s feat of reaching the knock-out stage having also made the quarter-finals in 2012/13.
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Name: HyveGeo
Started: 2023
Founders: Abdulaziz bin Redha, Dr Samsurin Welch, Eva Morales and Dr Harjit Singh
Based: Cambridge and Dubai
Number of employees: 8
Industry: Sustainability & Environment
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Investors: Venture capital and government
The bio
Favourite book: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
Favourite quote: “The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist
Favourite Authors: Arab poet Abu At-Tayyib Al-Mutanabbi
Favourite Emirati food: Luqaimat, a deep-fried dough soaked in date syrup
Hobbies: Reading and drawing
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
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TWISTERS
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Starring:+Glen+Powell,+Daisy+Edgar-Jones,+Anthony+Ramos
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The years Ramadan fell in May
Company profile
Name:+Thndr
Started:+October 2020
Founders:+Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of+$800,000
Funding stage: series A;+$20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
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COMPANY PROFILE
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Friday Stuttgart v Cologne (Kick-off 10.30pm UAE)
Saturday RB Leipzig v Hertha Berlin (5.30pm)
Mainz v Borussia Monchengladbach (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Union Berlin v SC Freiburg (5.30pm)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (5.30pm)
Sunday Wolfsburg v Arminia (6.30pm)
Werder Bremen v Hoffenheim (9pm)
Bayer Leverkusen v Augsburg (11.30pm)
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Al Ain 2 (Ismail Ahmed 3', Marcus Berg 50')
Red cards: Ismail Ahmed (Al Ain) 77'
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome