Borussia Dortmund begin their 2026-27 Champions League campaign at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday night, with Villarreal returning to the scene of one of their most painful European defeats from last season.
Dortmund arrive with momentum after producing an impressive comeback to beat Hoffenheim 3-2, turning a 2-0 deficit into victory and extending their winning run to three competitive matches. Villarreal, meanwhile, have endured a difficult start to their domestic campaign and now face one of Europe’s toughest away assignments.
There is also a significant psychological advantage for the hosts. Dortmund destroyed Villarreal 4-0 at Signal Iduna Park in last season’s Champions League, with Serhou Guirassy scoring twice.
At attractive odds of 2.60, our best bet is Borussia Dortmund -1 Asian Handicap.
Quick Prediction
Best Bet: Borussia Dortmund -1 Asian Handicap
Market: Asian Handicap
Correct Score Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Villarreal
Odds: 2.60
Confidence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Expected Goals: Over 2.5 Goals
Both Teams To Score: Yes
📅 Date: Tuesday 8 September 2026
🏟️ Venue: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund
🏆 Competition: UEFA Champions League – League Phase, Matchday 1
Match Preview
Borussia Dortmund could hardly enter their Champions League opener with more confidence.
They have won their last three competitive matches and showed plenty of character at Hoffenheim on Saturday. Dortmund found themselves 2-0 behind after 55 minutes, but Serhou Guirassy began the comeback before Fabio Silva equalised and a late Albian Hajdari own goal completed a dramatic 3-2 victory.
That ability to respond is encouraging ahead of the Champions League.
Dortmund’s ambitions should once again extend well beyond simply participating in the league phase. They reached the 2024 Champions League final and have become regulars in the knockout stages, while Signal Iduna Park continues to provide a considerable European advantage.
The attacking numbers from recent Champions League campaigns are particularly interesting. Dortmund’s league-phase matches have frequently developed into high-scoring contests, and their combination of aggressive football, home support and attacking quality can make them extremely difficult to contain.
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Serhou Guirassy will inevitably be central to Dortmund’s chances.
The striker remains one of Dortmund’s key Champions League players and has been included in their 2026-27 European squad alongside the likes of Jobe Bellingham, Felix Nmecha, Maximilian Beier, Ethan Nwaneri, Fabio Silva and Joey Veerman.
Guirassy was also the player who caused Villarreal enormous problems when these teams met last season.
Dortmund won that game 4-0, with Guirassy scoring twice before Daniel Svensson completed the scoring. It remains the only previous competitive meeting between the clubs.
Villarreal therefore know exactly how difficult Tuesday’s assignment could become.
The Spanish side have made a disappointing start domestically, failing to win any of their opening four league matches. Their recent Champions League away record is even more concerning, having lost five consecutive European away matches without scoring.
Last season’s European campaign was particularly poor. Villarreal managed only one point during the league phase, and the 4-0 defeat in Dortmund highlighted the difference between the sides when Dortmund were able to dictate the tempo.
That does not mean Villarreal are without attacking quality.
Nicolas Pépé has already started finding the net this season, and the visitors possess enough technical ability to punish Dortmund if the hosts become too aggressive.
But over 90 minutes, Dortmund should create considerably more.
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Why Borussia Dortmund -1 Asian Handicap Makes Sense
At 2.60, Dortmund -1 offers a much more interesting price than simply backing the German side to win.
The first reason is Dortmund’s home record in this competition.
They have lost only two of their last 23 Champions League matches at home, winning 17 of them. Signal Iduna Park remains one of the most difficult European venues for visiting teams.
Then there is Villarreal’s away record.
The Spanish side have lost their last five Champions League away matches without scoring. Combine that with Dortmund’s current winning run and the balance clearly favours the hosts.
The previous meeting is also impossible to ignore.
Dortmund’s 4-0 victory over Villarreal last November was not simply a narrow game decided by individual moments. Dortmund demonstrated that their attacking style could create major problems for Villarreal, and Guirassy in particular proved extremely difficult to contain. UEFA confirms that result was Dortmund’s third consecutive competitive victory against Spanish opposition.
The Asian Handicap also provides useful protection.
If Dortmund win by two or more goals, the bet wins. If Dortmund win by exactly one goal, the stake is returned. Only a draw or Villarreal victory loses the bet.
At odds of 2.60, that makes Dortmund -1 our preferred way of backing the hosts.
- ✓Dortmund enter the match after 3 consecutive competitive victories
- ✓Dortmund came from 2-0 down to beat Hoffenheim 3-2
- ✓Dortmund have lost only 2 of their last 23 Champions League home matches
- ✓Dortmund have won 17 of those 23 Champions League home matches
- ✓Dortmund reached the Champions League knockout stage in 8 of their previous 10 campaigns
- ✓Dortmund beat Villarreal 4-0 at Signal Iduna Park last season
- ✓Serhou Guirassy scored twice in that 4-0 victory
- ✓Dortmund have won their last 3 competitive matches against Spanish opposition
- ✓Dortmund scored 11 goals across those 3 victories against Spanish opponents
- ✓Villarreal are winless through their opening 4 domestic league matches
- ✓Villarreal collected only 1 point in last season's Champions League league phase
- ✓Villarreal have lost their last 5 Champions League away matches
- ✓Villarreal failed to score in each of those 5 away defeats
- ✓Villarreal conceded 2+ goals in 6 of their last 7 Champions League matches
- ✓Our correct score prediction is Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Villarreal
- ✓Borussia Dortmund -1 Asian Handicap is available at odds of 2.60
Team News
Dortmund have received some encouragement surrounding Nico Schlotterbeck, who has returned to training, although his availability for Tuesday remains uncertain.
The hosts have plenty of attacking alternatives regardless, with Guirassy expected to lead the line. Dortmund’s official Champions League squad also includes Maximilian Beier, Fabio Silva, Ethan Nwaneri, Konstantinos Karetsas and Jobe Bellingham among the attacking and midfield options available to Niko Kovac.
Villarreal have concerns surrounding Juan Foyth, who missed their latest domestic fixture.
Nicolas Pépé should remain an important attacking outlet for the visitors after his encouraging individual start to the season.
Possible Starting Lineups
Borussia Dortmund:
Kobel; Gadou, Anton, Mane; Ryerson, Bellingham, Nmecha, Svensson; Karetsas, Beier; Guirassy
Villarreal:
Luiz Junior; Mouriño, Foyth, Renato Veiga, Carlos Romero; Pépé, Comesaña, Gueye, Buchanan; Gerard Moreno, Mikautadze
The exact starting XIs remain subject to late fitness decisions, particularly surrounding Schlotterbeck and Foyth.
Players to Watch
Serhou Guirassy — Borussia Dortmund
There is an obvious standout.
Guirassy has produced 24 goal contributions across the previous two Champions League campaigns, including 17 goals, and he enters the competition as Dortmund’s principal attacking weapon.
He also scored the first Dortmund goal in Saturday’s comeback against Hoffenheim.
Most importantly for this particular matchup, Guirassy scored twice in the 4-0 victory over Villarreal last season.
Nicolas Pépé — Villarreal
Pépé offers Villarreal an important threat from wide areas and has already scored twice this season.
Interestingly, he attempted 19 shots without scoring during last season’s Champions League campaign. If Villarreal are to threaten Dortmund on the counterattack, Pépé could be one of their most important players.
Head-to-Head
There is only one previous competitive meeting between Dortmund and Villarreal.
It could hardly have been more convincing.
Borussia Dortmund 4-0 Villarreal — November 2025
Guirassy scored twice as Dortmund dominated at Signal Iduna Park, with Daniel Svensson also getting on the scoresheet.
Dortmund’s wider record against Spanish opposition is also encouraging. That victory was their third consecutive competitive win against a La Liga opponent, during which they scored 11 goals and conceded only two.
Final Verdict
Dortmund look superior in almost every important area heading into Tuesday.
They have won three consecutive competitive matches, possess a formidable Champions League home record and have already demonstrated that they can dismantle Villarreal at Signal Iduna Park.
Villarreal’s poor opening to the domestic season only strengthens the argument.
There is enough attacking talent in the Spanish side to prevent us from simply predicting another 4-0, and Dortmund showed against Hoffenheim that they can still be vulnerable defensively.
But if the hosts play anywhere near their attacking potential, Villarreal should struggle to contain them for 90 minutes.
Rather than taking the shorter price on a straight Dortmund victory, Borussia Dortmund -1 Asian Handicap at odds of 2.60 provides significantly more value while retaining protection against a one-goal Dortmund victory.
I expect Dortmund to start their European campaign with three points. You can also read our Real Madrid vs Inter Milan prediction.
FreeOddsTips Prediction
Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Villarreal
Best Bet: Borussia Dortmund -1 Asian Handicap
Odds: 2.60
Confidence: 4/5
