Christian Pulisic will hope to have more than just his 20th birthday to celebrate when Borussia Dortmund begin their 2018/19 UEFA Champions League campaign at Club Brugge in Group A on Tuesday (kick-off: 9pm CEST/8pm BST/3pm ET).
Latest
Pulisic made 15 Champions League appearances in his teen years, registering three goals and one assist. The USA international, who took his professional bow at 17, is now on 99 competitive games for Dortmund, and will bring up his century if he takes to the field at Brugge's Jan Breydel Stadium following a leg injury. Paco Alcacer stepped of the bench to grab a debut goal in the weekend win over Eintracht Frankfurt, but reports in Germany suggest the Barcelona loanee could miss out with a thigh strain. Midfielder Axel Witsel, another second-half substitute on Friday, is expected to begin the game.
Brugge warmed up for the contest with a 2-1 win against Lokeren to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. The defending Jupiler League champions have won six of seven league outings in 2018/19, and also beat Witsel's boyhood club Standard Liege to lift the Belgian Super Cup. Jelle Vossen could lead the line after his match-winning cameo from the bench at the weekend took his tally to a club-best four goals in as many appearances, but summer signing Clinton Mata remains on the sidelines after undergoing groin surgery in June. Atletico Madrid and Monaco complete Group A.
Probable line-ups
Brugge: Letica - Poulain, Mitrovic, Denswil - Bonaventure, Vormer (c), Vanaken, Rits, Groeneveld - Wesley, RezaeiAbsentees: Mata (groin)Coach: Ivan Leko
Dortmund: Bürki - Piszczek, Diallo, Akanji, Schmelzer - Dahoud, Witsel Delaney - Pulisic, Alacacer, Reus (c)Absentees: Guerreiro (muscle), Toprak (thigh)Coach: Lucien Favre
Match stats
Pulisic has produced 12 goals and 20 assists in 99 competitive Dortmund games.
Alcacer scored one goal in 12 Champions League appearances for Barcelona and Valencia.
Witsel, who made six appearances as Belgium finished third at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, faced Brugge 12 times as a Liege player (W7, D3, L2).
Dortmund have won only one of their last 12 competitive European fixtures - last season's 3-1 victory over Atalanta in the UEFA Europa League round 32 first leg.
Brugge have only won one of their last nine fixtures against German clubs, beating Dortmund 2-1 at home in the 2003/04 Champions League third qualifying round.
The Belgians are without a win in their last 10 Champions League matches (D1, L9).