Borussia Dortmund welcome Real Betis to Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday, 4 November, for matchday four of the Champions League league phase. Kick-off is at 21:00 local time, according to T-Online. It will be the first competitive fixture ever played between the two clubs.
Both sides arrive on the back of wins in Europe. Dortmund beat Azerbaijan's Sabah FK in their most recent Champions League outing, while Betis overcame Feyenoord Rotterdam.
Why it matters
The league table currently favours the visitors. T-Online reports that Betis sit fifth with nine points from three matches, having won all of them. Dortmund are 13th on six points, with two victories and one defeat so far.
That gap gives the match extra weight for the German side. A home win would pull Dortmund level with Betis on points and strengthen their position in the upper half of the standings. A Betis victory would leave the Spaniards comfortably clear and deepen the pressure on the Bundesliga club.
What the German press is watching
Coverage in Germany has focused on whether Dortmund can carry momentum from their recent meeting with Bayern Munich. sportschau.de framed its preview around how the team might preserve the performance from that game.
Kicker reported that Marcel Sabitzer is unavailable at short notice and examined how Dortmund could line up without him, as well as the individual matchups likely to shape the result.
There is also a sentimental thread. BVB.de and n-tv.de both highlighted the return of Marc Bartra to Dortmund. The defender spent time at the club earlier in his career, and n-tv.de recalled the 2017 attack on the Dortmund team bus in connection with his time there, describing this return as more than an ordinary football occasion.
Where to watch
DAZN holds the broadcast rights for the match, and T-Online notes that a paid subscription is required to watch. T-Online is also running a live ticker from 21:00 for readers following the game in text form.
What to watch
The result will reshape the top of the league phase table: a Dortmund win tightens the gap to the leading group, while a Betis win keeps the Spanish club among the early pace-setters.
