Tottenham vs. Borussia Dortmund: 5 key match-ups
4. Harry Kane vs. Roman Burki
When fit, Harry Kane is unquestionably the first attacker you have to be concerned with stopping if you’re Dortmund. While it’s a team effort to keep the English talisman off the score sheet, keeper Roman Burki is going to shoulder a big portion of that task.
While Dortmund is more renowned for their offensive exploits, their defense is solid at the very least. If they have a weak link at the back though, it’s been their Swiss keeper. He’s been solid on the year, but certainly not spectacular. In particular, his struggles to play the ball out from the back should be a concern for Dortmund. It’s a certainty that Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino will attempt to exploit that weakness early and often.
Kane will be a handful for Burki both as an attacker, and a defender. He’s the point man of Tottenham’s high-press which means he’ll be all over Burki if he dallies on the ball, even for a moment. One bad touch could give Tottenham a goal.
Of course, Burki will also need to be aware of Kane when Spurs have the ball. He’s shown an uncanny ability to produce goals out of absolutely nowhere, so the Bundesliga keeper will need to remain vigilant at all times. Kane can give his side the advantage via either foot, or his head if given proper service.
Next: 3. Erik Lamela vs. Shinji Kagawa