Dortmund vs Inter

The Signal Iduna Park and its famous "Yellow Wall" will be at maximum volume tonight, Wednesday, January 28, 2026, as Borussia Dortmund hosts Inter Milan in a high-stakes finale to the Champions League league phase. Kick-off is at 20:00 GMT (21:00 CET / 15:00 ET).

Separated by just one point, both former champions are fighting to avoid the February playoff round. Inter Milan sits in 14th place (12 points), while Borussia Dortmund is in 16th place (11 points). A win for either side, paired with favorable results elsewhere, could secure a direct ticket to the Round of 16.

Match Information

Borussia Dortmund: The Fortress of Westphalia

Niko Kovač’s men have turned their home ground into a nightmare for visitors, losing just once in their last 21 Champions League matches at the Signal Iduna Park. Coming off a dominant 3–0 weekend win over Union Berlin, BVB will look to use their attacking depth to overwhelm an Inter side that has recently stuttered in Europe.

Team News and Selection:

• Missing Pieces: The "Black and Yellow" are without the suspended Daniel Svensson. Key veterans Marcel Sabitzer and Niklas Süle are also sidelined with ongoing injuries.

• The Bellingham Factor: Jobe Bellingham has become a central figure in Dortmund’s midfield, expected to start alongside Felix Nmecha to provide energy and late-box arrivals.

• Goal Machine: Serhou Guirassy remains the focal point of the attack, supported by the creative duo of Julian Brandt and the electric Karim Adeyemi.

• Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Kobel; Anton, Can, Schlotterbeck; Ryerson, Bellingham, Nmecha, Bensebaini; Adeyemi, Brandt; Guirassy.

Inter Milan: Reclaiming European Form

Despite leading Serie A by five points following a 6–2 thrashing of Pisa, Cristian Chivu’s Inter has struggled on the continental stage lately, losing their last three Champions League matches. They arrive in Germany looking to break that curse and utilize their tactical discipline to silence the home crowd.

Team News and Selection:

• Midfield Crisis: Inter is missing its engine room, with Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella both out. Petar Sucic and Piotr Zielinski will be tasked with filling the void.

• Familiar Faces: Former Dortmund stars Manuel Akanji and Henrikh Mkhitaryan return to their old stomping grounds. While Akanji is a lock in defense, the 37-year-old Mkhitaryan may start on the bench.

• Strike Partnership: Captain Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram are expected to lead the line, though young sensation Pio Esposito is pushing for a start after a stellar domestic run.

• Predicted XI (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Sucic, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Thuram.

 Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats

• Recent History: Their last high-profile meeting saw Dortmund pull off a legendary 3–2 comeback win in 2019 after being 2–0 down.

• Defensive Contrast: Inter has kept 10 clean sheets in domestic play this season, but they have conceded in each of their last three European outings.

• BVB’s Home Streak: Dortmund has not trailed at halftime in any of their last 20 Champions League home matches.

• The "100" Milestone: A win tonight would be Borussia Dortmund’s 100th victory in Europe’s elite competition.

Tactical Analysis and Prediction

Dortmund will play with their usual home-turf aggression, using Ryerson and Bensebaini to pin back Inter’s wing-backs. Kovač will rely on Julian Brandt’s ability to find space between Inter’s lines to feed Guirassy.

Inter, under Chivu, is likely to be more pragmatic. They will look to absorb the "Yellow Wall" pressure and exploit Schlotterbeck’s tendency to roam forward by launching quick counters through Thuram. If Zielinski can control the tempo in the absence of Calhanoglu, Inter could frustrate the hosts.

Final Score Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 2–2 Inter Milan