Preview: Sabah FA vs. Dortmund · prediction, team news, line-ups

Sabah host Borussia Dortmund at the Baku Olympic Stadium on Tuesday in matchday three of the Champions League league phase, with kick-off at 17:45 BST.

Both sides have three points from two games. Sabah sit 22nd with a goal difference of -2, while Dortmund are 18th on zero in the 36-team table.

Match preview

Sabah are enjoying their Champions League debut. The Owls beat Slavia Prague 2-0 at home on matchday two to claim their first league-phase win.

That result is their only home game in this edition, and they have yet to concede at the Baku Olympic Stadium. They are unbeaten in eight home matches, have scored in all of them, and have won all five of their home European games this season, qualifying included.

Domestic form is just as strong. Sabah thrashed Qabala 4-0 on Saturday, following a 0-0 draw at Neftchi Baku on October 9 and September wins of 3-1 against Imisli and 3-0 at Safa Baku. That is four victories in five.

Away from home, the picture changes. Sabah lost 0-4 on their European road trip. Joy-Lance Mickels, with four goals, and Veljko Simić, with three, lead the scoring.

Dortmund arrive in poor form. They are winless in three, having drawn 2-2 with Werder Bremen on October 9, lost 1-0 at Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League and drawn 0-0 at Union Berlin on Saturday.

That is two consecutive games without a goal. Serhou Guirassy has gone three appearances without scoring, having contributed four goals and two assists before the international break.

Before that slump, Niko Kovac's side had won 1-0 at Stuttgart and 3-0 against Paderborn in the Bundesliga. In this competition they beat their opening opponents 3-2 at home but lost 1-0 on the road, and they have now lost four straight Champions League away games.

There is no head-to-head record, as this is the first meeting between the clubs. Kovac has demanded more speed and more shots after the barren spell, though he still views his team as clear favourites.

The occasion is historic for Sabah, with more than 55,000 fans expected, the biggest crowd in the club's history. Dortmund, in 18th, need points to avoid slipping away from the top places.

Team news

Sabah have few concerns. Khayal Aliyev is the only doubt with a tendon problem. Valdas Dambrauskas is expected to bring back Mickels, Parris, Du Queiroz and Simić, who were rested for the 4-0 win over Qabala.

Aleksey Isayev scored twice in that game and is pushing for a start, although a place on the bench looks more likely.

Dortmund should welcome back Nico Schlotterbeck, who missed the first two European fixtures through suspension and absence. Waldemar Anton is also set to return to the back three alongside Joane Gadou, with Gregor Kobel in goal.

Emre Can, Giannis Konstantelias and Justin Lerma remain out long term. Konstantinos Karetsas was injured against Union Berlin, did not travel to Baku and will also miss Saturday's game against Eintracht Frankfurt. Guirassy is expected to lead the line.