Match Information
Match Overview
Sabah FA host Borussia Dortmund at Bank Respublika Arena on October 20 in League Stage Matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League. It is an early point in the new format, and both clubs are still establishing their positions. Sabah FA sit 22nd in the league phase table and Dortmund are 18th, so the two teams are separated by only four places.
Recent results are the main factor in this match. Sabah FA lost 4-0 away to Manchester United on September 10 in League Stage - 1, then beat Slavia Praha 2-0 at home on October 13 in League Stage - 2. They have also been solid domestically, with a 3-0 win at Safa Baku on September 14, a 3-1 home win over Imisli FK on September 19 and a 0-0 draw at Neftchi Baku on October 9. Dortmund began their European campaign with a 3-2 home win over Villarreal on September 8, then lost 1-0 away to Bodo/Glimt on October 14. In the Bundesliga they beat SC Paderborn 07 3-0 on September 12, won 1-0 at VfB Stuttgart on September 19 and drew 2-2 at home with Werder Bremen on October 9.
Schedule is a secondary consideration. Dortmund played in Norway on October 14 and now travel to Baku, while Sabah FA's last European outing was a home fixture on October 13. Dortmund's recent run includes a draw and a defeat in their last two matches, and Sabah FA are unbeaten in their last four. The sides have no recorded head-to-head history, so this is a first meeting in the data available.
Neither club has any reported unavailable players, so both managers, Valdas Dambrauskas for Sabah FA and N. Kovač for Dortmund, should have full squads to choose from. Sabah FA's lineup against Slavia Praha used a 4-2-3-1 with J. Mickels leading the line, and Dortmund's last lineup was a 3-4-2-1 with Fábio Silva as the lone forward.
Overall, this is a meeting between a side with momentum at home and a visitor still looking for a first away result in the competition.
Predicted Lineups
Sabah FA
S. Pokatilov; A. Zedadka, S. Solvet, A. McCarthy, T. Puchacz; U. Rakhmonaliyev, I. Lepinjica; K. Parris, Du Queiroz, V. Simic; J. Mickels
Borussia Dortmund
G. Kobel; Kouakou Joane Gadou, W. Anton, R. Bensebaïni; D. Svensson, J. Bellingham, J. Veerman, M. Beier; K. Karetsas, S. Inacio; Fábio Silva
Team Form Analysis
Sabah FA
League Position: 22Sabah FA Form Analysis
Sabah FA arrive with four unbeaten matches in their last five, a run that began after the 4-0 loss at Manchester United on September 10 in the Champions League. They followed that with a 3-0 away win at Safa Baku on September 14 and a 3-1 home win over Imisli FK on September 19, both in the Premyer Liqa. A 0-0 draw at Neftchi Baku on October 9 extended the run before a 2-0 home win over Slavia Praha on October 13 in League Stage - 2.
Their attacking output is encouraging: eight goals in five matches, with three of those matches producing at least two. The defensive record is also strong in recent weeks. They conceded only once in their last four games and kept clean sheets against Safa Baku, Neftchi Baku and Slavia Praha. The only heavy concession was the four goals shipped at Manchester United.
The quality of opposition varies. Two of the five matches were European fixtures, and the other three were domestic league matches. The Slavia Praha result stands out as the most significant, since it showed they can win a Champions League match at home.
Borussia Dortmund
League Position: 18Borussia Dortmund Form Analysis
Dortmund's form is mixed. They won three of their first four matches in this stretch, beginning with a 3-2 home win over Villarreal on September 8 in the Champions League. They then beat SC Paderborn 07 3-0 on September 12 and won 1-0 at VfB Stuttgart on September 19 in the Bundesliga. Their last two matches have brought a 2-2 home draw with Werder Bremen on October 9 and a 1-0 defeat at Bodo/Glimt on October 14 in League Stage - 2.
They have scored nine goals in five matches, with two of the five matches producing three goals. Defensively they have conceded five times, including a clean sheet against Paderborn and Stuttgart, but they also gave up two against Werder Bremen and Villarreal. The loss at Bodo/Glimt means they failed to score in a match for the first time in this run.
Their away form is split between a win at Stuttgart and the defeat in Norway. The October 14 match also means a short turnaround before this trip to Baku, which is a schedule consideration rather than a conclusion about performance.
Head-to-Head
Memorable Matches
There is no head-to-head history available between Sabah FA and Borussia Dortmund, so this League Stage - 3 fixture will be the first recorded meeting between the clubs in the data. That alone gives the occasion a special feel, especially for Sabah FA, who are hosting a club from the Bundesliga on the European stage.
Both teams have shown they can be involved in eventful European matches this season. Dortmund won a 3-2 contest with Villarreal on September 8, while Sabah FA were beaten 4-0 at Manchester United on September 10 before bouncing back with a 2-0 home win over Slavia Praha on October 13. With no shared past to draw on, this match will create its own history.
Venue Factor
The match is scheduled for Bank Respublika Arena, Sabah FA's home ground for this
Injury Concerns
Sabah FA
Borussia Dortmund
