Preview: Borussia Dortmund vs. Ajax - prediction, team news, lineups

Borussia Dortmund will be out for revenge when Ajax travel to Signal Iduna Park for the fourth round of Champions League games on Wednesday evening.

It has been just two weeks since the Dutch side humiliated Dortmund 4-0, but the hosts have won three consecutive games since then.

Match preview

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The two sides came into their first meeting two weeks ago with 100% records and, despite Ajax having produced the more impressive performances in their opening two wins and having home advantage, it was the German side who were the slight favourites.

The odds soon began to turn, however, after an early own goal from Marco Reus, which was followed by decisive strikes from Daley Blind, Brazilian winger Antony and Sebastien Haller.

Dortmund's defensive showing was particularly poor and Marco Rose will be determined to see his side to put things right on this occasion.

They have bounced back well, with three comfortable wins over Arminia Bielefeld, Ingolstadt and FC Koln in the last fortnight, with Rose's men producing a very efficient display in their 2-0 victory over The Billy Goats on Saturday.

Despite missing more than half a dozen players through injury, including top scorer Erling Braut Haaland, BVB netted a goal in each half through Thorgan Hazard and Steffen Tigges to remain just one point behind Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga.

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Their impressive victory last time out took Ajax to within touching distance of the Champions League knockout stages, despite the groups having only just reached the halfway point, with a six-point gap to third-placed Sporting Lisbon meaning they could wrap up qualification on Wednesday if results go their way.

De Godenzonen's perfect record in Europe to this point is only slightly more impressive than their domestic form.

They sit top of the Eredivisie, having won eight of their first 11 games and have already built up an incredible goal difference of +35.

A fair portion of that came in the game following their 4-0 rout of Dortmund, when they went one better against title rivals PSV Eindhoven five days later, with goals from Steven Berghuis, Haller, Antony, Davy Klaassen and Dusan Tadic seeing them run out 5-0 winners.

The winning streak did end last weekend, however, when Frank Wormuth's side were held to a 0-0 stalemate away at Heracles - despite the slightly disappointing draw, that made it four consecutive games with a clean sheet and their upcoming opponents will do well to break down such a stubborn defensive unit.

Team News

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Haaland remains out for Dortmund - who often appear a totally different side without the big Norwegian spearheading their attack - and his absence is somewhat the tip of an injury-crisis iceberg.

Nico Schulz, Raphael Guerreiro and Mateu Morey are all confirmed out, whilst Dan-Axel Zagadou, Mahmoud Dahoud, Giovanni Reyna and Marcel Schmelzer are all doubts, although the latter is back in training.

In more positive news, 16-year-old sensation Youssoufa Moukoko returned to the bench at the weekend and Emre Can looks set to make his return as part of a back three.

Ajax are not without injury problems of their own, missing goalkeepers Maarten Stekelenburg and Andre Onana, as well as Sean Klaiber, with Zakaria Labyad and Noussair Mazraoui also doubts through illness.

Haller will continue to lead the line, having so far produced an incredible six goals and two assists from three appearances during his debut Champions League campaign.

Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Can, Hummels, Akanji; Meunier, Bellingham, Witsel, Wolf; Reus, Brandt; Hazard

Ajax possible starting lineup:
Pasveer; Rensch, Timber, Martinez, Blind; Alvarez, Gravenberch; Antony, Berghuis, Tadic; Haller

We say: Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Ajax

Whilst the hosts will be hellbent on righting the wrongs of their 4-0 drubbing, the loss of Haaland is impossible to ignore, as is Ajax's impressive form. We fancy BVB to grab a goal but to let in more than they score and fall to another loss to the Dutch side.

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