An already-qualified Borussia Dortmund welcome a Paris Saint-Germain side still fighting for their right to enter the Champions League last-16 draw in Wednesday's mouthwatering Group F finale.
While the hosts only require a point to confirm first place in the group, Luis Enrique's men will leave their qualification hopes up to chance with anything other than victory at the Westfalenstadion.
Match preview
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Since commencing this year's Champions League 'group of death' with a disheartening 2-0 loss to their upcoming opponents at the Parc des Princes, Borussia Dortmund have outlined their European credentials and ensured a place in the knockout rounds with a third successive continental win on matchday five.
On the back of consecutive beatings of Newcastle United, Edin Terzic's men knocked down a few more walls of the San Siro fortress courtesy of a 3-1 beating of AC Milan, where Marco Reus began the goal rush before Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Karim Adeyemi also registered.
Boasting a respectable 10 points from a possible 15 in the group phase thus far, Dortmund will be present in the last-16 draw no matter what transpires this week, although their three-point lead over PSG leaves them at risk of being bumped down to second spot if they lose to Enrique's side this week.
Recent Champions League feats at the Westfalenstadion suggests that the Dortmund contingent can already begin to plan their first-placed party, as they have kept four clean sheets in each of their last four home games in the tournament - an all-time club best - but December's domestic exploits have not made for positive reading.
Since the start of the month, BVB have been held to a draw away to title-chasing Bayer Leverkusen, been dumped out of the DFB-Pokal by Stuttgart and lost 3-2 at home to RB Leipzig in Saturday's Bundesliga contest, where a 15th-minute Mats Hummels red card was step one on the recipe for disaster.
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Coincidentally, a last-minute officiating call deemed disastrous for those of a Newcastle persuasion spared PSG's blushes against the Magpies two weeks ago, as the French champions were on the brink of defeat at the Parc des Princes owing to Alexander Isak's first-half effort.
Many a chance came and went for PSG to restore parity - thanks to their own wastefulness and a Nick Pope blinder - but with mere seconds remaining, Tino Livramento was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box, allowing Kylian Mbappe to crash home a late leveller from the 12-yard mark.
The incandescent Magpies faithful pointed out that the ball appeared to strike Livramento's thigh before hitting his elbow, but it was no use, as PSG remained in the driving seat for progression and will confirm a last-16 berth - as well as a first-placed finish - if they win on Wednesday evening.
However, a draw would leave Les Parisiens vulnerable to being caught by Newcastle if the Magpies sink AC Milan, and if the worst should occur and Enrique's men lose in Germany, they would need the other game in the group at St James' Park to end in a draw to cling onto second place.
A three-game losing run away from home in the Champions League will not lead to unbridled optimism within the Parisiens' camp, and not since October 2020 have they recorded a clean sheet outside of the Parc des Princes in the competition, but they have never before lost four successive European games on the road.
The Ligue 1 champions' domestic title charge got off to an underwhelming start, but a 2-1 beating of Nantes at the weekend represented their eighth top-flight win on the bounce, and only one of their previous five contests with Dortmund has ended with Les Parisiens coming out on the losing side.
Team News
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Hummels's impending domestic ban means nothing in terms of Champions League football, but Dortmund have lost one experienced head to the rule book for Wednesday's game, as Emre Can must serve a suspension for picking up three yellow cards in Group H.
Terzic could therefore be left in a sticky midfield situation if Marcel Sabitzer fails to recover from a calf problem, as Felix Nmecha is also missing with a hip issue until 2024, but the Dortmund coach is hopeful that the Austrian will shake off the issue in time to cover for the banned Can.
Marius Wolf also has a strong chance of returning from an ankle problem, which would be particularly timely as Thomas Meunier was not registered for Dortmund's UCL squad, but Julian Ryerson (knee), Youssoufa Moukoko (hamstring), Sebastien Haller (knee) and Julian Duranville (thigh) are all unavailable.
Can was not the only player to pick up a milestone booking on matchday five, as PSG winger Ousmane Dembele is also on the naughty step for an accumulation of cautions, offering Bradley Barcola hope of a starting role after he opened his Parisiens account versus Nantes at the weekend.
The beating of Les Canaris also saw teenage sensation Warren Zaire-Emery play 30 minutes off the bench after recovering from an ankle sprain, which was initially expected to rule him out until 2024, but it remains to be seen if Enrique is prepared to risk him from the off this week.
Nuno Mendes (hamstring), Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles), Fabian Ruiz (shoulder), Keylor Navas (back) and Sergio Rico (head trauma) are all out of contention for the visitors, but no fresh concerns have reared their ugly heads from the win over Nantes.
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Sule, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Sabitzer, Ozcan; Reus, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Fullkrug
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Skriniar, Hernandez; Lee, Ugarte, Vitinha; Barcola, Kolo Muani, Mbappe
We say: Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain
Clean sheet-less away from home in the Champions League for over three years, PSG will likely have to fight fire with fire once again if they are to keep their dreams of a first top-level European crown alive, but Enrique has the resources at his disposal to do so.
While PSG could take a leaf out of Dortmund's defensive playbook in Group H, the hosts' recent domestic plight and plethora of absentees has us siding with Les Parisiens to ensure a path to the last 16, with a first-placed finish to boot.
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Top tip
Ben Knapton
