Spurs vs Borussia Dortmund: Match Preview, Latest Team News and How to Watch | OneFootball

Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund: How to Watch, Team News and a Night That May Define Spurs’ Season

There are Champions League nights that feel routine, and then there are evenings that seem to hum with consequence long before kick-off. Tottenham’s meeting with Borussia Dortmund belongs firmly in the latter category. It is not simply another fixture in the league phase; it is a moment loaded with pressure, uncertainty and the faint promise of redemption.

Spurs arrive here bruised domestically, restless in the stands and uneasy in the dugout, yet still alive and competitive in Europe. Dortmund, meanwhile, bring confidence, attacking fluency and a sense of opportunity. This is a contest shaped as much by context as by tactics, and one that could tilt Tottenham’s season in either direction.

Tor, Torjubel, zum 1:0 durch Niclas Füllkrug / Fuellkrug Borussia Dortmund 

Tottenham context heading into Champions League clash

Tottenham’s recent domestic form has been unforgiving. Five games without a win across all competitions has sharpened scrutiny on Thomas Frank and intensified the atmosphere around the club. Home defeats, particularly the loss to West Ham at the weekend, have chipped away at belief and left supporters searching for signs of progress.

Yet Europe has offered a different version of Spurs. Three home games in the Champions League, three wins, no goals conceded. It is a statistical quirk that feels almost defiant, as though Tottenham are clinging to continental nights as a refuge from domestic anxiety. They begin this round of fixtures four points clear of the elimination zone and within touching distance of the top eight, a position that still carries real promise.

Borussia Dortmund sit just above Spurs in the expanded league table, their superior goal tally reflecting a side that attacks with confidence and clarity. This is not the Dortmund of recent European near-misses, but a team that senses vulnerability across the continent and intends to exploit it.

Much of this framing draws on reporting from the Evening Standard’s match preview, which outlines both the tension around Frank’s position and the delicate mathematics of qualification now facing Tottenham.

How to watch Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund live

For supporters wanting to follow the match live, the details are straightforward but significant. Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund kicks off at 8pm GMT on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

In the UK, the match will be shown live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage beginning at 7pm GMT. For those watching online, the game will be available via live stream on the Discovery+ app and website for TNT Sports subscribers.

Need a VPN to watch the match? Our preferred VPN to watch UK TV from anywhere is LibertyShield.com – they offer a 48 hour no-obligation free trial and have apps or all popular devices including Mac, Windows, FireTV, iPhone/iPad and Android.

There will also be live text coverage and in-game analysis through Standard Sport’s match blog, offering minute-by-minute updates from inside the stadium. On a night where momentum could swing sharply, that sense of immediacy may be essential.

Team news shaping Tottenham selection decisions

Tottenham’s team news is less encouraging. Injuries and absences have stripped Frank of continuity and forced constant reshuffling. Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur and Richarlison all remain sidelined, removing creativity, control and experience from key areas of the pitch.

Defensively, Ben Davies is set for surgery after fracturing his ankle, while Micky van de Ven is suspended following an accumulation of yellow cards. Pape Matar Sarr is unlikely to feature, and several squad players are unavailable due to Champions League registration rules, including Conor Gallagher, Yves Bissouma and Radu Dragusin.

There is at least a decision to be made up front, with Dominic Solanke potentially returning to the European squad following an emergency registration change last month. It is not an ideal set of circumstances, but necessity may yet breed clarity.

Dortmund’s issues are lighter by comparison. Jobe Bellingham is expected to start in midfield, while Aaron Anselmino remains a doubt. Their squad depth and relative stability stand in contrast to Tottenham’s patched-up approach.

What the night means for Tottenham momentum

Tottenham’s recent history against Dortmund offers encouragement. Spurs have won their last four meetings, including the memorable 2018–19 Champions League tie that propelled them toward a final. Those memories linger, even if the personnel has changed.

Still, this is a different moment. Dortmund arrive in better form, with greater attacking rhythm and less internal noise. For Tottenham, the challenge is not merely to win, but to remind themselves and their supporters of what this team can still be.

Champions League nights have a habit of distilling truth. They reveal resilience or expose fragility. For Tottenham, this match is both an opportunity to edge closer to qualification and a chance to steady a season that threatens to drift. Whether they take it may say as much about their collective psychology as their tactical execution.