Legia v Dortmund: line-ups, where to watch, form guide
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Article summary
Bundesliga fan Besnik Hasi acknowledged that Dortmund "are better than Legia", but reminded his side that "football is brilliant because you never know what will happen".
Article top media content
Article body
- Besnik Hasi urges Legia to put on a show as Dortmund head east
- Polish side's first UEFA Champions League group stage match since 1995
- Thomas Tuchel says it feels like Christmas Eve as he awaits his group stage debut
- Legia unlikely to field injured defensive linchpin Michał Pazdan
- Don't forget to pick your Fantasy Football team before the deadline
Possible line-ups
Legia: Malarz; Broź, Dąbrowski, Rzeźniczak, Bereszyński; Langil, Moulin, Odjidja, Jodłowiec, Guilherme; Nikolić.
Out: Hloušek (suspended)
Doubtful: Pazdan (muscle problems), Kucharczyk (foot)
Dortmund: Bürki; Piszczek, Sokratis, Bartra, Schmelzer; Rode, Weigl, Castro; Dembele, Aubameyang, Schürrle.
Where to watch
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.
Besnik Hasi, Legia coach
I played them two years ago as Anderlecht coach so I know how tough this task is; my team barely attacked for the first 30 minutes because they kept us defending so deep. Of course, BVB are better than Legia, but football is brilliant because you never know what will happen.
Legia have waited so long for Champions League football so we have to enjoy it and show we deserve to play in a competition like this. It is an honour for me to face a Bundesliga team as this is my favourite league; I like the way German football is run and I follow it closely.
Thomas Tuchel, Dortmund coach
It is difficult to pin down Legia as they rotate their squad quite a lot [they have used 28 players in the league this season]. But I don't think their domestic problems will affect them too much. Maybe the opposite, in fact. Legia fans have waited a long time for Champions League football.
I coached BVB in the Europa League last season and some games were like Champions League games. It will be a pleasure to guide the team in the Champions League for the first time, though. The wait for your first Champions League game is like the anticipation before Christmas or a birthday.
Weekend results
Nieciecza 2-1 Legia (Jovanović 20pen, Kedziora 84pen; Nikolić 90+3)
Legia have just nine points from eight games, after conceding two penalties to their high-flying hosts. Nemanja Nikolić has now scored nine of Legia's 18 goals this term.
Leipzig 1-0 Dortmund (Keita 89)
Dortmund dropped their first points of the season as Leipzig won their first-ever Bundesliga home game in dramatic style, substitute Naby Keita set up by new signing Oliver Burke as the city ended a 22-year wait for top-flight football. Dortmund had the better of the early exchanges but were ultimately blunted.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)*
Legia: LWDLWL
Dortmund: LWWL
*This season only
Home reporter's view: Piotr Koźmiński (@UEFAcomPiotrK)
Legia's Group F home matches are all sold out, with anticipation high for their second campaign at this level – which comes fully 21 years after their first in 1995/96. However, fans in Warsaw are realists, most accepting that even a draw against Dortmund might be a push for a side who are only 13th in the Ekstraklasa. An injury to defensive pillar Michał Pazdan has further weakened Legia. Can they resist Dortmund's immense offensive power?
Did you know?
Dortmund beat Legia 1-0 in a friendly in Warsaw in July 2012 – who scored the goal? Read more in our extensive match background.