This week sees the first round of group matches in the UEFA Champions League and we have some fantastic matches to look forward to across the continent. One of the picks of the games comes at Signal Iduna Park in Group F as Borussia Dortmund host Barcelona.
This group also contains Inter Milan and Slavia Prague with the former hoping to push for a place in the knockout stages, so it should be very interesting to watch.
Borussia Dortmund come into the match having defeated Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 at home in the Bundesliga on Saturday. It was an important win as they lost prior to the international break at newly promoted Union Berlin.
Having qualified for the group stages automatically, Borussia Dortmund have yet to play in the Champions League this season but sit second in the Bundesliga, with 9 points from a possible 12 available.
However, trends show they have won only one of their last five matches in the Champions League which came at Monaco in the group stages last season. At home, Borussia Dortmund have won two of their last eight games, with both wins also coming in the group stage last season. There was a 3-0 win over Monaco and an impressive 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid.
Borussia Dortmund have failed to score a goal in their last two home Champions League matches which were against Club Brugge and Tottenham Hotspur.
Barcelona travel to Germany having made light work of Valencia at the Camp Nou on the weekend. The hosts romped to a 5-2 to win over their opponents and wasted little time in getting the first goal, which set the tone for the game.
The reigning La Liga champions sit in fifth place in the league, with 7 points from four games played. They lost on the opening day of the season 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao and were also held to a 2-2 draw at Osasuna.
In the Champions League, trends show Barcelona have won four of their last five games and lost only one of their last twelve. However, the defeat was the heavy 4-0 loss at Liverpool in the semi-final last season but that is their only defeat in their last five on the road.
Looking ahead to the team news and Borussia Dortmund are expected to be without Nico Schulz and Marwin Hitz who have a foot and stomach injury respectively. Lukasz Piszczek and Mateu Morey are doubtful.
Barcelona make the trip without the injured trio of Neto, Ousmane Dembélé and Samuel Umtiti. However, there could be good news regarding the fitness of Lionel Messi and the superstar is back in training following a calf injury.
This could be a very attacking game of football, with both teams intent on scoring goals. The potential return of Messi would make a lot of difference but with Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann up-front, Barcelona should win with both teams scoring.