Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — Match Preview
The famous Yellow Wall at Signal Iduna Park prepares to roar this Tuesday as Borussia Dortmund host Villarreal in a pivotal Champions League encounter. The two sides find themselves in vastly different realities in the new League Phase format. Dortmund, managed by the pragmatic Niko Kovac, are currently 14th and looking to solidify their place in the knockout playoff spots. They enter this game off the back of a chaotic 3-3 draw with Stuttgart, proving their attack is lethal but their defense remains vulnerable.
On the other side, Marcelino García Toral’s Villarreal are in crisis mode in Europe. Sitting a lowly 32nd with just one point, the Yellow Submarine is sinking fast. However, a morale-boosting 2-1 domestic win over Mallorca this weekend has given them a glimmer of hope. Can Villarreal salvage their European campaign in one of the most hostile stadiums on the planet, or will Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adeyemi put them to the sword?
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal
- Competition: UEFA Champions League (League Phase – Matchday 5)
- Venue: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund (Capacity: 81,365)
- Date: Tuesday, 25 November 2025
- Kickoff Time: 21:00 CET / 20:00 GMT / 01:30 IST (Wednesday)
- Referee: Davide Massa (Italy)
- VAR: Massimiliano Irrati (Expected)
- TV Channel (UK): TNT Sports 2
- TV Channel (USA): Paramount+, CBS Sports Network
- TV Channel (India): Sony Sports Network, SonyLIV
- Live Stream: Paramount+ (USA), SonyLIV / JioTV (India)
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Borussia Dortmund:
- Position: 14th in Champions League (7 Points).
- Form: Entertaining but Erratic. Kovac’s side has scored 13 goals in 4 CL games but conceded 11. The recent 3-3 draw vs Stuttgart summarized their season: irresistible going forward, fragile at the back.
- Current Challenge: Tightening up a defense that has leaked 3+ goals in two of their last three matches.
Villarreal:
- Position: 32nd in Champions League (1 Point).
- Form: Jekyll and Hyde. Terrible in Europe (losing 1-0 to Pafos was a low point), but solid in La Liga, winning 3 of their last 4.
- Current Challenge: Overcoming a mental block in the Champions League. They have scored just 2 goals in 4 European games.
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — What’s at Stake
For Borussia Dortmund:
- Top 8 Push: With 7 points, a win here takes them to 10, putting them within striking distance of the automatic qualification spots (Top 8).
For Villarreal:
- Survival: This is effectively a final. If they lose, they will likely remain in the elimination zone (bottom 12) with only a few games left. A win is non-negotiable if they want to stay in Europe.
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — Team Form
Borussia Dortmund (Last 5 Matches):
- D vs Stuttgart (3-3)
- D vs Hamburger SV (1-1)
- L vs Manchester City (1-4 – CL)
- W vs Augsburg (1-0)
- W vs Eintracht Frankfurt (2-1 – Cup)
Villarreal (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Mallorca (2-1)
- W vs Espanyol (2-0)
- L vs Pafos (0-1 – CL)
- W vs Rayo Vallecano (4-0)
- W vs Ciudad de Lucena (6-0 – Cup)
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — Team News
Borussia Dortmund:
- Niklas Süle: Out (Toe Injury – Out until mid-December).
- Ramy Bensebaini: Out (Injured).
- Serhou Guirassy: Available. The top scorer is fit and expected to lead the line.
- Waldemar Anton: Expected to anchor the defense in Süle’s absence.
Villarreal:
- Pau Cabanes: Out (Cruciate Ligament – Long-term absentee).
- Willy Kambwala: Out (Ligament Injury).
- Nicolas Pépé: Available. The winger has been in fine form domestically and will be the key outlet.
- Ayoze Pérez: Expected to start up front after his recent goal-scoring run.
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — Head to Head
- 06 Aug 2024: Dortmund 2–2 Villarreal (Friendly)
- 22 Jul 2022: Dortmund 0–2 Villarreal (Friendly)
- Analysis: These teams have only met in friendlies recently, with Villarreal holding the upper hand. However, a competitive night in Dortmund is a different beast entirely.
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — Predicted Lineups
Borussia Dortmund (3-4-2-1):
Kovac continues with his preferred back-three system to accommodate his attacking wing-backs.
- GK: Gregor Kobel
- CB: Waldemar Anton
- CB: Nico Schlotterbeck
- CB: Aaron Anselmino
- RWB: Julian Ryerson
- CM: Marcel Sabitzer (C)
- CM: Felix Nmecha
- LWB: Daniel Svensson
- CAM: Karim Adeyemi
- CAM: Maximilian Beier
- ST: Serhou Guirassy
Villarreal (4-4-2):
Marcelino sticks to his classic 4-4-2 block, looking to counter-attack through the wings.
- GK: Luiz Júnior
- RB: Santiago Mouriño
- CB: Juan Foyth
- CB: Renato Veiga
- LB: Sergi Cardona
- RM: Nicolas Pépé
- CM: Pape Gueye
- CM: Dani Parejo (C)
- LM: Alberto Moleiro
- ST: Ayoze Pérez
- ST: Georges Mikautadze
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — Impact Bench Options
Borussia Dortmund:
- Jamie Gittens: If the game is open, his 1v1 dribbling ability against tired legs is devastating.
- Julian Brandt: Surprisingly benched in this prediction, but he offers world-class creativity if Dortmund struggles to break the block.
Villarreal:
- Yeremy Pino: Explosive winger who can change the dynamic if Pépé fades.
- Gerard Moreno: The veteran striker (if fit) is the ultimate “clutch” player for Villarreal in European nights.
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — Tactical Outlook
Borussia Dortmund:
- Playing Style: Heavy Metal Transition. Kovac wants his team to win the ball in midfield and launch vertical attacks instantly. With Adeyemi and Beier supporting Guirassy, they have immense speed. They will look to overload Villarreal’s flanks, forcing Pépé and Moleiro to defend deep.
- Weakness: Defensive Spacing. The 3-4-2-1 leaves gaps behind the wing-backs. If Villarreal can bypass the initial press, Anselmino and Anton can be exposed in wide areas.
Villarreal:
- Playing Style: Compact 4-4-2. Marcelino’s teams are famous for their discipline. They will sit in two banks of four, clog the middle, and force Dortmund wide. When they win the ball, Parejo will look to release Pépé or Ayoze instantly.
- Strength: Midfield Resilience. Pape Gueye provides the muscle, while Parejo provides the brain. If they can slow the game down, the crowd will get frustrated.
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Daniel Svensson vs. Nicolas Pépé | Speed vs. Trickery: Svensson loves to attack, but Pépé is deadly on the counter. If Svensson pushes too high, Pépé will score. | Villarreal |
| Marcel Sabitzer vs. Dani Parejo | Engine vs. Architect: Sabitzer will try to overrun Parejo with energy. Parejo will try to pass around him. A classic clash of styles. | Dortmund |
| Nico Schlotterbeck vs. Georges Mikautadze | Physical Duel: Mikautadze is sharp and elusive. Schlotterbeck needs to stay on his feet and not dive into tackles. | Dortmund |
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — Spotlight Players
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund):
The Guinea international is a goal machine. His physical presence allows Dortmund to play long when under pressure, and his finishing inside the box is elite. Against a Villarreal defense missing key pieces like Kambwala, he will be licking his lips.
Alberto Moleiro (Villarreal):
Often called the “new Pedri,” Moleiro is the creative spark on the left. In a rigid 4-4-2, he is the one player allowed freedom to drift inside and create. If Villarreal are to score, it will likely come from his vision finding Ayoze or Pépé.
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — Fan Reactions
Dortmund Fans:
“We concede too many goals, but we score even more! 4-3 win incoming?”
“Kovac needs to fix the defense. Villarreal are dangerous on the break.”
Villarreal Fans:
“We are awful in the Champions League this year. Just don’t get embarrassed.”
“A win against Mallorca gave us hope. Maybe Marcelino has a masterplan for Dortmund.”
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — Where to Watch
- UK: TNT Sports 2
- USA: Paramount+
- India: Sony Sports Network, JioTV
- Germany: DAZN
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — Match-Defining Factors
- The Yellow Wall Factor: Villarreal’s players (especially the younger ones like Mouriño and Veiga) might be intimidated by the noise. A fast start from Dortmund could end the game in 20 minutes.
- Dortmund’s Defensive Discipline: Can they keep a clean sheet? They haven’t managed one in the last 4 games. If they concede a sloppy goal, anxiety will creep in.
- Parejo’s Control: If Dani Parejo can keep the ball and slow the tempo, he can neutralize the crowd. If he gets pressed out of the game, Villarreal will collapse.
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — Prediction
Score Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 3–1 Villarreal
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Borussia Dortmund to Win.
- Total Goals: Over 2.5 Goals (Dortmund games average 4+ goals recently).
- Anytime Goalscorer: Serhou Guirassy (Dortmund) or Nicolas Pépé (Villarreal).
Analysis: Villarreal’s domestic form is improving, but their European performances have been lifeless. Dortmund, fueled by the home crowd and a potent attack, should have too much firepower. While Dortmund’s leaky defense guarantees Villarreal will get chances (and likely a goal), the Germans will simply outscore them.
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — Final Word
This is a must-win for Villarreal if they want to stay in the Champions League, but Borussia Dortmund are arguably the worst possible opponent to face when you need a result away from home. Kovac’s heavy-metal football meets Marcelino’s disciplined block, but expect the sheer chaos and energy of Signal Iduna Park to overwhelm the Spaniards.
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal — FAQs
When is the Dortmund vs Villarreal match?
The match kicks off on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, at 21:00 CET (Wednesday 01:30 IST).
Is Niklas Süle playing?
No, Niklas Süle is out until mid-December with a toe injury.
Who is the referee?
The match will be officiated by Davide Massa from Italy.
Where can I watch the match in India?
You can watch live on Sony Sports Network and stream on SonyLIV or JioTV.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
Will the Yellow Wall propel Dortmund to victory, or can the Yellow Submarine surface with a shock win? Drop your predictions below!
If you enjoyed this preview, follow SportsphereArena.com for post-match ratings, tactical deep dives, and exclusive fan analysis.
Stay connected for real-time updates across football, tennis, and cricket.
Stay informed. Stay analytical. Stay in the game — with Sportsphere Arena.
RELATED ARTICLE
Luton Town vs Huddersfield Town: Preview
Watford vs Preston North End: Preview
Peterborough United vs Stevenage: Preview
Marseille vs Newcastle United: Preview
Ajax vs Benfica — Match Preview
Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen — Match Preview
External Link
About the Author
6 thoughts on “Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal: Preview, Prediction, Lineups | Champions League 2025/26”