Borussia Dortmund will be up against Ulsan HD at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati in a crucial match on Wednesday evening, with just one point needed to secure a spot in the round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Niko Kovac's team has had mixed results in the tournament so far, drawing 0-0 with Fluminense before a thrilling 4-3 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns. While their attacking players impressed in the win, their defensive weaknesses were exposed.
With two losses in a row in Group F, Ulsan's hopes of progressing further in the competition have been dashed, ensuring an early exit for the K League 1 champions regardless of the result against Dortmund.
Although Ulsan cannot progress, they can still influence the outcome of the group, as a win for them could potentially see both Fluminense and Mamelodi advance at the expense of Dortmund.
Team news
Borussia Dortmund are likely to field a strong team in their quest for qualification, with key players such as Felix Nmecha and Serhou Guirassy expected to retain their places after scoring in the previous match.
New signing Jobe Bellingham has made a strong impression in midfield and is pushing for a starting role, while other players like Jamie Gittens, Julian Ryerson, and Karim Adeyemi could also feature.
On the other hand, Ulsan may be without Um Won-sang due to a shoulder injury sustained in the last game, which could be a blow for coach Kim Pan-gon's plans.
While Ulsan might rotate their squad to keep players fresh, the significant prize money at stake for a win is likely to influence the coach's team selection.
The stats
Dortmund averaged 2.09 goals per game in the Bundesliga last season but conceded 1.5 goals per match, with a high percentage of their games seeing both teams score.
Ulsan suffered defeats in their previous matches but showed promise by leading at halftime against Fluminense before fading in the second half.
While Ulsan have never advanced from the group stage in this competition, they have a history of causing upsets against stronger opponents, including some players who were part of South Korea's victory over Germany in the 2018 World Cup.
Prediction
Dortmund's defense, crucial in their Bundesliga success, has struggled in the Club World Cup, relying on goalkeeper Gregor Kobel's heroics in the first match and facing difficulties against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Despite their defensive troubles, Dortmund's opponents, Ulsan, have not been prolific in attack and could be missing key player Um. Ulsan have had difficulty hitting the target in their previous games.
If Dortmund can tighten up defensively and regain their organization, they should be able to secure a victory and progression in the tournament.