Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund Prediction - UEFA Champions League
Tottenham face Borussia Dortmund in London in a crucial Champions League group stage match, where the two teams are fiercely competing for a top 10 spot with 11 points each.
The importance of the great battle in London.
At 3:00 AM on January 21, 2026, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be the center of attention for a direct clash between Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund. Both teams are currently neck and neck in the UEFA Champions League standings with 11 points each after 6 matches. This is a showdown between a Tottenham side with exceptional home form and a Borussia Dortmund side boasting the most explosive attack in the league.
Form and position in the league table
| Team | Location | Score | Form (last 5 matches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borussia Dortmund | 10 | 11 | 3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss |
| Tottenham | 11 | 11 | 2 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss |
Tottenham are showing consistency when playing in London. In their last six matches, they have won three, all at home. With an average of 2.2 goals per game, the white-clad team always knows how to exploit the weaknesses of their opponents at their home ground.
On the other side of the pitch, Borussia Dortmund is the epitome of total attacking football. They have scored 19 goals (an average of 3.2 goals per game), the most impressive figure among the mid-table teams. However, the German team's defense is a major question mark, conceding an average of 2.2 goals per game.
The head-to-head history favors the Roosters.
Based on historical statistics, Tottenham has a clear psychological advantage. In the last five encounters between the two teams in European competitions, Tottenham has won four times and lost only once. Notably, dominant victories such as 3-0 in 2019 and 3-1 in 2017 demonstrate Tottenham's strong record when hosting the Ruhr-based team at home.
Tottenham are facing a serious squad crisis.
The biggest challenge for the home team in this match is the extensive list of absentees, which seriously affects every aspect of the game. Key players who will be unavailable include:
- Attack:Dominic Solanke is unavailable, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison are out with knee injuries, and Richarlison has a hamstring injury.
- Midfield:Rodrigo Bentancur and Mohammed Kudus suffered muscle injuries, Yves Bissouma and Conor Gallagher were unavailable, and Pape Matar Sarr was rested.
- Defense:Micky van de Ven is suspended due to a yellow card, Ben Davies has an ankle injury, and Radu Dragusin is unavailable.
Borussia Dortmund also suffered losses with midfielder Marcel Sabitzer absent due to a calf injury and Ramy Bensebaini due to illness. However, compared to Tottenham's situation, the German team still maintains a more stable core squad.
Tactical analysis and predictions
Despite facing personnel difficulties, Tottenham still enjoys confidence thanks to their absolute home advantage and the historical record against Dortmund. With a predicted probability of securing points (win or draw) of up to 90%, the home team is likely to opt for a cautious approach to neutralize Dortmund's powerful attack.
The match is predicted to be open with the possibility of more than 1.5 goals, as both teams possess an attacking style of play and their defenses have not been particularly solid recently.
Team lineup updated at 02:23 on 21/01/2026
Official lineup
Tottenham
Diagram: 4-2-3-1
CoachThomas Frank
Starting lineup:
- 1. Guglielmo Vicario (G)
- 23. Pedro Porro (D)
- 17. Cristian Romero (D)
- 4. Kevin Danso (D)
- 13. Destiny Udogie (D)
- 14. Archie Gray (M)
- 15. Lucas Bergvall (M)
- 28. Wilson Odobert (M)
- 7. Xavi Simons (M)
- 24. Djed Spence (M)
- 19. Dominic Solanke (F)
Substitutes:
- 31. Antonín Kinsý
- 40. Brandon Austin
- 67. Jun'ai Byfield
- 76. James Rowswell
- 66. Malachi Hardy
- 52. Callum Olusesi
- 39. Randal Kolo Muani
- 44. Dane Scarlett
- 54. Tynan Thompson
- 70. Yusuf Akhamrich
- 68. Luca Williams-Barnett
Borussia Dortmund
Diagram: 3-4-2-1
CoachNiko Kovac
Starting lineup:
- 1. Gregor Kobel (G)
- 3. Waldemar Anton (D)
- 4. Nico Schlotterbeck (D)
- 5. Ramy Bensebaini (D)
- 2. Yan Couto (M)
- 7. Jobe Bellingham (M)
- 8. Felix Nmecha (M)
- 24. Daniel Svensson (M)
- 27. Karim Adeyemi (F)
- 10. Julian Brandt (F)
- 9. Serhou Guirassy (F)
Substitutes:
- 31. Silas Ostrzinski
- 33. Alexander Meyer
- 23. Emre Can
- 26. Julian Ryerson
- 25. Niklas Süle
- 28. Aarón Anselmino
- 39. Filippo Mané
- 17. Carney Chukwuemeka
- 14. Maximilian Beier
- 16. Julien Duranville
- 21. Fábio Silva
