Borussia Dortmund begin their 2026/27 Champions League campaign at home to Villarreal on Tuesday, with Niko Kovac’s side looking to carry their strong domestic form onto the European stage.
Borussia Dortmund welcome Villarreal to Signal Iduna Park on September 8 as the UEFA Champions League kicks off.
The Bundesliga side have made an unbeaten start to the domestic campaign and arrive in confident mood after recovering from two goals down to beat Hoffenheim 3-2 in their most recent league outing.
That comeback was another demonstration of Dortmund’s attacking quality and resilience. They had trailed 2-0 but turned the game around through Serhou Guirassy, Fabio Silva and an own goal, maintaining their perfect start to the Bundesliga season.
The Champions League, however, presents a different challenge. Dortmund’s league-phase schedule is demanding, with Arsenal, Inter, Real Betis, Aston Villa and other difficult opponents still to come.
💫 Königsklassen-Auftakt im September – 𝐒𝐎 sieht der neue Monat für Schwarzgelb aus! Zum ersten Heimspiel in der #UCL gegen @VillarrealCF gibt es ab sofort Tickets!
🎟️ https://t.co/XcskOljtEt pic.twitter.com/Iqjf2HGcno
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) September 1, 2026
A positive result against Villarreal would therefore provide an important foundation for their European campaign.
Dortmund Looking to Make Home Advantage Count
Dortmund’s biggest weapon should be the atmosphere at Signal Iduna Park. Their ability to play at a high tempo and put opponents under sustained pressure could make life difficult for Villarreal, particularly if the hosts score early.
Guirassy remains a major threat in the final third, while Fabio Silva has also made an encouraging start to life in Dortmund. The German side have plenty of attacking options and will look to exploit Villarreal’s defensive organisation with quick combinations and movement around the penalty area.
Villarreal Face a Major Early Test
Villarreal enter the contest knowing they have been handed one of the more difficult away assignments in the opening round of the league phase.
The Spanish side will need to be disciplined without the ball while remaining brave enough to exploit spaces behind Dortmund’s defence. Their ability to transition quickly could be particularly important if Dortmund commit numbers forward.
Villarreal also have a challenging Champions League schedule ahead. Their league-phase fixtures include Napoli, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, Slavia Prague, Sabah, Fenerbahce and Manchester United, making points in Germany particularly valuable.
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal Predicted Lineups
Borussia Dortmund:
Kobel; Ryerson, Schlotterbeck, Anton, Bensebaini; Nmecha, Sabitzer; Adeyemi, Brandt, Svensson; Guirassy.
Villarreal:
Luiz Junior; Foyth, Albiol, Kambwala, Cardona; Comesaña, Parejo; Yeremy Pino, Baena, Moleiro; Gerard Moreno.
Prediction
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Villarreal.
