Juventus will aim to re-establish themselves as a European force when they take on Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.

The UEFA Champions League group stage returns this week with a heavyweight clash at the Allianz Stadium as Juventus host Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night. Both clubs enter the contest in fine domestic form, setting the stage for an enticing European encounter.

Juventus arrive with momentum after edging an exhilarating 4-3 Derby d’Italia victory over Inter Milan at the weekend. Despite trailing 3-2 with less than 15 minutes to play, late strikes turned the tide and extended their flawless start to the Serie A season. Igor Tudor’s men now sit second in the table behind Napoli only on goal difference, with three wins from three.

The Old Lady’s sharp attack has yielded seven goals in their first three league matches, though their defensive record faltered for the first time against Inter. That balance between attacking flair and defensive stability will be critical if Juventus are to improve on last season’s disappointing Champions League campaign.

In 2024/25, Juventus finished 20th in the league phase with just nine points, and their elimination in the round of 16 playoff against PSV Eindhoven (4-3 on aggregate) highlighted their European frailties. They failed to score in three of their last four league-phase games, and their record against Bundesliga opponents was mixed: a narrow 3-2 win over RB Leipzig offset by a 1-0 loss to VfB Stuttgart.

At home, Juventus are formidable domestically, with six straight Serie A victories at the Allianz Stadium. However, in Europe, they have stumbled, losing two of their last four home fixtures. Breaking that trend will be key against a confident Dortmund side.

Dortmund warmed up for this clash with a comfortable 2-0 victory over FC Heidenheim, aided by an early red card that left their opponents a man short for 70 minutes. Niko Kovac’s men took advantage, creating three big chances while allowing just one shot on target. The result gave BVB back-to-back league wins and extended their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season.

Kovac has instilled defensive resilience in his squad, with three clean sheets in their opening four matches, as many as they managed in the previous 19 outings combined. His side also boast attacking efficiency, scoring nine times in their first four games, and they have shown strong form away from home with two wins and a draw this season, building on an unbeaten away run that closed out 2024/25.

Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League journey last season ended in the quarter-finals against Barcelona, where a heavy 4-0 first-leg defeat proved too much to overturn despite a spirited 3-1 win in the second leg. They will aim to carry lessons from that campaign into Turin, as they look to assert themselves in a balanced group.

The Black and Yellows have not faced Juventus competitively since 2015, when they were beaten 5-1 on aggregate in the round of 16. However, history is not entirely against them: Dortmund won both prior meetings before that tie, a reminder that they can trouble Italian opposition. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.

Team News & Tactics

Juventus

Juventus head into their Champions League opener with a relatively clean bill of health. Most of Igor Tudor’s first-team regulars are available for selection, and there are no major suspensions to contend with. The only concern would be any late knocks picked up in training, but as it stands, Tudor should be able to deploy a strong lineup against Borussia Dortmund.

The defensive structure looks particularly settled. Gleison Bremer is expected to anchor the back three, flanked by Federico Gatti and summer arrival Lloyd Kelly. This trio gives Juve a blend of physical strength, aerial dominance, and composure on the ball.

Tudor is set to line up his side in a 3-4-1-2 formation, designed to give balance between solidity at the back and dynamism in attack. In goal, Michele Di Gregorio will continue as the first-choice goalkeeper. Ahead of him, the three-man defence will feature Federico Gatti on the right side, Gleison Bremer marshalling the central area, and Lloyd Kelly slotting in on the left of the back line.

The wing-back roles are crucial in Tudor’s system. Pierre Kalulu will operate on the right, providing pace and width both defensively and offensively, while Weston McKennie is likely to start on the left, offering versatility and energy to shuttle up and down the flank.

In midfield, Manuel Locatelli will sit at the base, tasked with dictating play and recycling possession under pressure. Alongside him, Khephren Thuram brings physicality and ball-carrying ability, complementing Locatelli’s metronomic passing.

Ahead of them, Kenan Yildiz is expected to operate in the advanced playmaking role, linking midfield with attack and providing creativity between the lines. Up front, Dusan Vlahovic and Jonathan David should form the strike partnership. Vlahovic offers a powerful penalty-box presence, while David’s intelligent movement and finishing instinct provide a more mobile threat.

Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Di Gregorio; Gatti, Bremer, Kelly; Kalulu, Locatelli, Thuram, McKennie; Yildiz; Vlahovic, David

Borussia Dortmund

Niko Kovac’s early-season success has been built on defensive discipline, which makes Dortmund’s absences all the more striking. Emre Can, Niklas Sule, and Nico Schlotterbeck are all sidelined, depriving the squad of three experienced defensive options. Their injuries limit Kovac’s flexibility at the back, leaving him reliant on younger or less experienced players to step up.

Fortunately, there are no suspension concerns, but the defensive depth remains stretched as they prepare for the trip to Turin. Kovac is expected to stick with his 3-4-2-1 formation, a shape that allows Dortmund to remain compact defensively while still offering attacking fluidity.

In goal, Gregor Kobel will continue as the undisputed number one, providing both shot-stopping quality and composure in distribution. The back three should consist of Aaron Anselmino on the right, Waldemar Anton as the central anchor, and Ramy Bensebaini on the left. While less experienced than the absent trio, this unit has shown organisation and resilience in recent weeks.

In midfield, Yan Couto will likely operate as the right wing-back, pushing forward to support attacks while tracking back defensively. On the opposite flank, Daniel Svensson is expected to start, providing balance with his work rate and crossing ability. The central midfield pairing will feature Marcel Sabitzer, whose experience and energy help control transitions, alongside Jobe Bellingham, who will relish the opportunity to showcase his all-round qualities on the European stage.

Just behind the striker, Julian Brandt and Maximilian Beier will be tasked with linking midfield to attack, offering creativity and movement between the lines. Leading the line is Serhou Guirassy, whose physical presence, finishing ability, and intelligent positioning make him Borussia Dortmund’s primary attacking threat against Juventus.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Kobel; Anselmino, Anton, Bensebaini; Couto, Sabitzer, Bellingham, Svensson; Brandt, Beier; Guirassy

Key Stats

• This will be the 10th competitive meeting between Juventus and Borussia Dortmund in Europe. The Old Lady have won six of the previous nine encounters, losing just twice.

• Borussia Dortmund have lost five of their last six away games against Italian opposition in the Champions League (W1). Their only success in that run was a 2-1 victory at Bologna last season.

• Juventus have never lost when opening a European Cup/UEFA Champions League campaign. Out of 14 opening fixtures, they have won 11 and drawn three, including a 3-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven in last year’s edition.

• Borussia Dortmund have made fast starts in Europe, winning their opening group-stage fixture in three of the last four Champions League campaigns. The only exception was a 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in 2023/24.

• Igor Tudor will oversee his first Champions League campaign as Juventus manager in 2025/26. If successful, he would become only the fourth individual to both play for and manage Juventus in this competition, following in the footsteps of Ciro Ferrara, Antonio Conte, and Andrea Pirlo.

Player to Watch

Jonathan David

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All eyes will be on Jonathan David, Juventus’s summer signing who has been brought in to add pace, movement, and goals to Igor Tudor’s frontline. The Canadian striker has already begun to show flashes of his quality, offering clever runs in behind and a tireless work rate that stretches defences and creates space for strike partner Dusan Vlahovic.

David’s versatility allows him to play as both a poacher and a second striker, linking play with midfielders like Kenan Yildiz while also being clinical in the penalty area. Against Borussia Dortmund’s makeshift back line, which will be without established figures like Niklas Süle and Nico Schlotterbeck, his intelligent positioning could prove decisive.

With Juventus historically strong at home and looking to start their European campaign on the front foot, David’s sharp movement and finishing touch might be the difference. If he can exploit the spaces between Borussia Dortmund’s back three, he could announce himself as a key figure for the Bianconeri in Europe this season.

Prediction

Juventus 1-1 Borussia Dortmund

Juventus will look to use their home advantage and carry momentum from their dramatic derby win into Europe, but Borussia Dortmund’s defensive solidity and away form suggest this could be a tight affair.

Both teams are capable of scoring, yet they may ultimately cancel each other out in an evenly matched contest. The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-1 draw between Juventus and Borussia Dortmund in the midweek UEFA Champions League clash.