Welcome to the Champions League 26/27! In the first day of opening 8pm Champions League matches, Borussia Dortmund seek a rematch with Villarreal in Dortmund. Dortmund have been riddled with injuries this season, including losing their star CB, Nico Schlotterbeck during the World Cup, and new young Greek talent Giannis Konstantelias getting an ACL tear during their Bundesliga opener vs Hamburg. The last time these sides met at the Westfalenstadion, Dortmund cruised through and beat Villarreal 4 to none, with a brace from Guirassy followed with goals from Adeyemi and Svensson. Dortmund exited the Champions League in the playoffs following their collapse away in Bergamo, where they lost 4-1 to an Atalanta looking to find their footing. Villarreal on the other hand, had a rocky Champions League campaign, where they went 0-1-7 and ultimately finished 35th and were eliminated. Under Kovac this season, Dortmund have had dramatic matches following a 2-0 win to Hamburg, and a 3-2 final gasp win to Hoffenheim. Away in the Yellow Submarine, new manager Inigo Perez has failed to get a win this season, with the most recent match ending in a 3-2 defeat at home following an Aubameyang late goal. Dortmund will be looking to start off their Champions League campaign with a confident win, while Villarreal seek to try and find footing under their new manager, and hopefully avoid another league phase exit in the Champions League. Players to watch on the Dortmund end include the young, star-studded Arsenal loanee, Ethan Nwaneri, who forced the own goal vs Hoffenheim, and young Greek talent Konstantinos Karetsas who lit up the Belgium league at Genk, and is already getting used to life at Dortmund having already netted an assist vs Hamburg. Players to watch on the Villarreal end include Georgian striker Mikautadze, who has already netted 2 goals and assists for Villarreal this LaLiga season, and overall had a positive campaign of 21 goals and assist last season, and the young Nathan Saliba who netted 3 goals and assists during the World Cup for Canada and joined the club this summer.