Borussia Dortmund found out their opponents in the league phase of the new Champions League format. They will host Barcelona and will travel to Spain to face Real Madrid, one of Nuri Şahin’s former clubs.
Now Borussia Dortmund head coach, Şahin has reacted to the draw: “Good opponents, interesting opponents. It fits quite well. I would have liked Celtic away. The trip to Madrid is a special one for me because I played there briefly. My son told me that the new stadium is very, very nice. I find Zagreb interesting, Bruges is not a long drive, and you look forward to Bologna both as a tourist and as a fan. It’s an interesting mix.”
Hans-Joachim Watzke believes that the new format has given Die Schwarzgelben a favourable draw. Should they finish in the top eight, they will automatically be guaranteed a place in the Round of 16. If they finish between 9th and 24th, they will be put into a playoff system to secure a place in the last 16.
Borussia Dortmund will start their Champions League campaign between 17 and 19 September, while the second matchday will be two weeks later.
