Borussia Dortmund have been nothing but top-tier at international level

While Bayern Munich is on fire and there is a question mark over Thomas Tuchel's future, calm has returned to Borussia Dortmund in the spring. Coach Edin Terzic is back in the saddle after a disappointing first half of the season. Marcel Sabitzer, Jadon Sancho and Co. have scored 14 points from their last six games and moved into the all-important fourth place in the Bundesliga table.

But this does not hide the fact that the season has not been satisfactory for the Westphalian so far. The championship title may not go to Munich even once, but most likely it will go to Leverkusen, and the black and yellow team failed in the cup in the round of 16. So the Champions League is the only bright spot in a bleak situation. Borussia wants to reach the quarter-finals of the first division for the first time since 2021, but to do so they must eliminate PSV Eindhoven. Although PSV Eindhoven, coached by former Dortmund coach Peter Bosz, is considered a lightweight European team and a feasible undertaking despite all its successes in the Netherlands, many experts remain skeptical.

Level available

A poor performance in the 1-1 draw at Wolfsburg gave little encouragement and raised doubts about Borussia's suitability for the elite of European football. The question about the lack of a standard for such high demands made Emery boil. “Now please don't exaggerate. We are 100 percent at Champions League level,” the Borussia Dortmund captain said, adding: “We will go there to win.”

Dortmund proved that it is at its best in the Champions League this season. They finished first in a tough group with well-known and financially strong clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, Milan and Newcastle. But they face a team brimming with self-confidence. PSV earned 62 points from 22 matches, achieving 20 wins and only two draws. PSV Eindhoven are a powerhouse, especially at home, and have won 15 of their 17 matches in all competitions – a goal difference of 33:5. Coach Boss is satisfied with his team: “This is the best team I have ever worked with. I have been doing this for several years.”

Inter is very strong

Simone Inzaghi can't stop raving right now either. The Inter coach and his team are confidently leading the Italian League table, and this year there is only one feeling when the referee blows the final whistle: the feeling of victory. The Nerazzurri won all eight competitive matches in 2024, including the Italian Super Cup final and the Italian Super Cup. However, the 47-year-old does not want to think of anything as a certain success ahead of today's duel with Atletico Madrid: “These two matches will be very close and difficult.” Marko Arnautovic, who scored against Salernitana 4-0 at the weekend, will be at the Giuseppe-Meazza Stadium and will probably only have to sit on the bench initially.

On the other hand, the situation in the Rojiblancos can be compared to the situation in Dortmund. The tournament team trailed its local rival, Real Madrid, by 11 points, without coach Diego Simeone's team, and was threatened with elimination in the King's Cup semi-finals after a 0-1 defeat in the first leg at their home stadium against Athletic Bilbao. The otherwise energetic coach is cautious ahead of the guest appearance at Milan: “It will be very difficult for us, Inter are the favorites because they are in excellent form at the moment.”