Guerreiro has some muscle stiffening and is doubtful for tomorrow, most likely won't play. Reus is out with injury. This means Schmelle as LWB which he is terrible at. Let's hope Auba is at his sharpest and we make the most of our chances as Benfica know how to defend a lead. Predicted line-ups according to BVB: Let's smash Benfica and go through to the quarter-finals, boys.
Really bad news. Losing such key players. I expect a great performance from Weigl, but we need Dembele to step up and go onto the next level. I've got a feeling it's going to be Schurrle's night.
I have long suspected that moments like these are what was in somebody's mind (TT?)when the fees paid for Schurrle were being discussed. It will be interesting to see if Schurrle starts, and if so can he produce tomorrow?
No Gurreiro, no Reus. I don't know what's worse. Missing these guys or having to deploy such substandard replacements. We will need monstrous performances from Weigl, PEA, Sokratis, Bartra, Bürki and Dembélé. Frankly LP needs to step up big time. I have no expectations from Castro and Schurrle.
Bleh. Guerreiro was playing well too... Still though if we can't beat Benifica at home we don't deserve CL qualification. We had them on the ropes last time but couldn't finish.
I can definitely see another home win on the cards, but conceding an away goal is always a big risk. Time to step up.
BVB: Bürki, Bartra, Dembélé, Aubameyang, Pulisic, Sokratis, Piszczek, Castro, Schmelzer, Weigl, Durm.
We should be able to handle these guys. In Madrid today. I was going to watch the game at the pub, but most of them interested in Barca game.
Who would have thought it was a bad idea to heavily rotate players and change formations? We are obviously all idiots here and could never point this out. I would much rather have had Schurrle start, but it's Tuchel's decision. Schurrle not playing, confirms Tuchel deserves virtually no say in transfers. If he is not prepared to play him now then he is admitting that the 30 million was a waste.
I'd expect major rotation in the next BL game. Right now the team's on a roll and Tuchel doesn't want to jeopardize the CL.
I hope not. I don't want to be in the stadium to see an entire B team. On a serious note, it's against Berlin so TT cannot afford a slip up.
I think most coaches rotate more in the first half of the season. We are in the business end now. No time for rotations since all matches are important and maintaining rhythm is essential.
Gonna be stuck in a lab with no wifi, and I hit my data cap for this month, hope I can get out of that early. Hoping for some early goals for us, R16 exit isn't acceptable