Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund take the field in the Champions League level on points but carrying very different weight on their shoulders. For the German side, the match represents a chance to move forward calmly in a tournament that has become a clear priority. For the English club, it’s more of an internal stress test. The moment is delicate, pressure around Thomas Frank is real, and Tuesday’s clash in London may say far more about Tottenham’s future than it does about the standings.
Spurs sit on 11 points in 11th place, while Dortmund are 10th with the same total, holding the edge on goal difference. The tight gap in the table contrasts sharply with the teams’ domestic form. Tottenham arrive under pressure after three straight defeats in all competitions, including the loss in the London derby against West Ham. Dortmund, meanwhile, are riding a seven-match unbeaten run, even while sitting well behind Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
The contrast between European Tottenham and domestic Tottenham
Tottenham’s Champions League campaign helps explain why the competition has been treated as a priority. The team has won all three home matches in the tournament, scored eight goals and conceded none. They are the only club with a perfect home record without allowing a goal in this edition of the competition. On top of that, Tottenham are unbeaten in 23 home matches in European competitions since February 2020.
That form stands in sharp contrast to recent results outside the European setting. After the 3–0 win over Slavia Prague, which kept the team close to the top eight, Tottenham have failed to win again at home. The defeat to West Ham extended the negative run and added to the pressure on Thomas Frank, who remains in charge but faces internal questions about what comes next.
Dortmund arrive backed by numbers and efficiency
Borussia Dortmund, in turn, have built their recent recovery on a solid defensive foundation in the Bundesliga. The team have conceded just 17 goals in the German league, boast the second-best defense in the competition, and have recorded nine clean sheets, three of them in their last six matches. That pattern shows up clearly in the results, as the club has won almost every game in which it kept a clean sheet.
In the Champions League, Dortmund stand out for a different reason, attacking efficiency. They have the highest conversion rate in the tournament and have outperformed their expected goals by the largest margin, scoring 19 goals from 12.8 expected. Even with struggles away from home, including heavy losses to Manchester City and Juventus, the team remains decisive when chances appear.
History matters, but the European moment evens things out
The historical record clearly favors Tottenham. The English club have won all four meetings with Dortmund in the Champions League, including the round of 16 clash in 2018/19, when they won 3–0 in London and 1–0 in Germany. Dortmund, in fact, have never beaten Tottenham in the competition.
Even so, the current matchup brings together a home side with consistent European performances in London and an away team arriving with momentum, confidence, and strong underlying numbers.