Borussia Dortmund are set to play Villarreal in a pre-season friendly at CASHPOINT Arena on Tuesday.
Dortmund's new boss Nuri Sahin will hope that his side can familiarise themselves with his tactical style ahead of the new Bundesliga season, while Villarreal will aim to secure a return to European football in the 2024-25 La Liga campaign.
Match preview
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Borussia Dortmund's subpar 2023-24 league season would have been erased from memory had they won the Champions League final against Real Madrid on June 1, but their disappointment was instead compounded after they lost 2-0.
Despite having the better of the first half against Madrid and generating numerous opportunities in front of goal, Dortmund were eventually defeated due to goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior.
Last term, the Black and Yellow's finished fifth in the Bundesliga with 63 points from 34 games, a particularly disheartening league placement considering they failed to capitalise on the weaknesses of Bayern Munich, who fell short in the title race to Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen.
Then boss Edin Terzic had been criticised for an overly pragmatic and reactive play style, and it is of little surprise that the former Dortmund player decided to leave the club after the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.
Current boss and former Black and Yellow player Sahin was one of Terzic's assistant managers alongside Sven Bender, but was promoted in the summer to the position of manager on a three-year deal.
On July 24, Dortmund beat Cerezo Osaka 3-2 in their most recent pre-season friendly, and Sahin's more adventurous style of football was clear to see on the day.
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Opponents Villarreal also had a disappointing league campaign considering they finished eighth in 2023-24 with 53 points, 11 fewer than they achieved in 2022-23.
In fact, their points tally of 53 was their lowest return since 2018-19, a season in which they only accumulated 44 points.
Last season was also the first time that the Yellow Submarine failed to qualify for Europe since 2018-19, but it should at least mean that manager Marcelino Garcia Toral has extra time on the training ground with his players.
Toral has been in charge of the club since November 2023 and was Villarreal's third permanent manager of the 2023-24 campaign after Quique Setien and Pacheta were both dismissed.
Under Toral's leadership, Villarreal have won 15, drawn nine and lost eight matches, and they ended the La Liga season with just one defeat in their last eight games.
The Yellow Submarine drew their most recent pre-season friendly 0-0 against Nottingham Forest on August 2.
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Team News
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Borussia Dortmund's Youssoufa Moukoko has been linked with a move to Villarreal this summer, and it will be interesting to see if the young striker is given a start on Tuesday as an audition for his potential suitors.
Defender Yannik Luhrs picked up an injury last time out for Dortmund, and he is a doubt for Tuesday's game.
Striker Alexander Sorloth has signed for Atletico Madrid and will play no part in the pre-season clash.
In Sorloth's absence, Villarreal could look to use Denis Suarez and Arnaut Danjuma in a front two, but they will no doubt seek reinforcements in the remaining weeks of the transfer window.
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Meyer; Ryerson, Sule, Meiser, Rothe; Kamara, Nmecha; Adeyemi, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Haller
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Conde; Femenia, Albiol, Navarro, Cardona; Pino, Comesana, Terrats, Parejo; Danjuma, Suarez
We say: Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Villarreal
Dortmund's attacking style under Dortmund should help make Tuesday's clash against Villarreal an entertaining watch.
However, the departure of Sorloth could see the Yellow Submarine struggle to convert their chances, and his absence makes Dortmund favourites.
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