The Matchday 1 clash of the 2025/26 Champions League group stage between Juventus (Italy) and Borussia Dortmund (Germany) will take place on September 16 at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. Juventus vs. Borussia Dortmund: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Juventus
The team earned its spot in the Champions League group stage by finishing fourth in the previous Italian championship. Since the 2012/13 season, Juventus has only missed the main draw of this European competition once. In last season's Champions League, the Turin side advanced past the group stage but was eliminated in the first playoff round by PSV (2-1, 1-2, extra time 0-1). Notably, in their last eight matches in this tournament, the club has secured only two wins (3 draws, 3 losses). Additionally, Juventus has won 6 out of 9 previous European encounters with Borussia Dortmund (1 draw, 2 losses). Furthermore, the club has never lost in the first round of the Champions League group stage (6 wins, 3 draws).
- Juventus's uncompromising home run in the Champions League counts 26 matches (17 wins, 9 losses).
- The club conceded exactly 1 or 2 goals in 90 minutes in 7 of their last 8 home matches in this European competition.
- The team has not won the second half in 5 of their last 6 home games in the Champions League (2 draws, 3 losses).
Predicted lineup for Juventus (3-4-3)
Michele Di Gregorio – Federico Gatti, Lloyd Kelly, Pierre Kalulu – Joao Mario, Khephren Thuram, Manuel Locatelli, Joao Mario – Teun Koopmeiners, Jonathan David, Kenan Yildiz.
Midfielder Fabio Miretti and forward Francisco Conceicao will miss the match due to injuries. Defender Gleison Bremer's participation is in doubt.
Borussia Dortmund
The team secured fourth place in the previous German championship, earning a spot in the Champions League group stage. For Borussia Dortmund, this marks their tenth consecutive season in the main draw of this European competition, with their best achievement during this period being a final appearance in 2024, where they lost to Real Madrid 0-2. In the last Champions League campaign, Dortmund reached the quarter-finals, where they were outplayed by Barcelona (0-4, 3-1). It's worth noting that the team has suffered only one defeat in their last seven matches in this tournament (4 wins, 2 draws). However, Borussia has won only one of their last seven away games in European competitions against Serie A teams (1 draw, 5 losses).
- Exactly three goals have been scored in regular time in 5 of Borussia's last 7 away matches in the Champions League.
- The team scored at least twice in 90 minutes in 5 of their last 7 away games in this European competition.
- Dortmund did not concede in the first half in 6 of their last 8 away matches in the Champions League.
Predicted lineup for Borussia Dortmund (3-4-3)
Gregor Kobel – Julian Ryerson, Waldemar Anton, Ramy Bensebaini – Yan Couto, Felix Nmecha, Job Bellingham, Daniel Svensson – Carney Chukwuemeka, Serhou Guirassy, Maximilian Bayer.
Defenders Aaron Anselmino, Niklas Sule, Emre Can, and Nico Schlotterbeck, as well as forward Fabio Silva, will not play due to injuries.
Referee
Francois Letexier (France)
Matches – 15 (International matches, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 71;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.7;
Red cards shown – 4;
Average fouls per match – 22;
Penalties – 40%.
Juventus vs. Borussia Dortmund: Match Prediction
At home, Juventus tends to play an attacking style. Thanks to this approach, Juventus scores regularly: in their last 15 home matches in the Champions League, the team failed to score only three times, and in eight of those occasions, they netted at least twice. Meanwhile, in 8 of their last 9 home games in this European competition, the club could not keep a clean sheet.
Borussia also favors an active forward play and rarely faces difficulties breaking down opponents' defenses even away from home: in their last 12 away matches in the Champions League, the Germans failed to score only once. In six matches during this period, the team scored at least two goals. However, Dortmund is not always reliable at their own end: in their last 23 away games in this tournament, Borussia has kept a clean sheet only five times.
I anticipate a goal exchange in this encounter, and my prediction: Both teams to score – yes
