Pre-Match Analysis: Dortmund travels to Bologna in critical Champions League Clash

Borussia Dortmund has struggled in 2025, losing each of their three opening matches. Nuri Sahin knows that anything less than a win against Bologna may cost him his job. 

Borussia Dortmund v Celtic FC - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2
Borussia Dortmund v Celtic FC - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 | Jürgen Fromme - firo sportphoto/GettyImages
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Team News

Ramy Bensebaini, Niklas Sule, Julian Ryerson
Real Madrid C.F. v Borussia Dortmund - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 | Denis Doyle/GettyImages

Borussia Dortmund— DWLLL— 9th— Nuri Sahin should have the services of most of his squad. Niklas Süle remains sidelined from a syndesmotic ligament rupture, and Ramy Bensebaini will be suspended through yellow card accumulation. Other than these two omissions, the rest of the squad is expected to travel to Bologna. The Champions League has been Nuri Sahin’s saving grace thus far, accumulating a respectable twelve points from six matchdays.

Bologna—WLDDW—33rd— Bologna has had its ups and downs this season, currently sitting seventh in the Serie A table. In the Champions League, the Italian club is still searching for its first win, having earned only two points from a pair of draws against Benfica and Shakhtar Donetsk, respectively. Bologna's manager, Vincenzo Italiano, will be without a few personnel, including Nicolo Cambiaghi, Michel Aebischer, and Oussama El Azzouzi, who are expected to be missing due to injuries.