Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund: Champions League preview, predictions and bet builder tips

• Ladbrokes previews Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League

• We are backing Spurs to lose at home again with both teams to score

• Julian Brandt is tipped for a goal with over 2.5 total goals scored in the game

Thomas Frank is clinging onto his position as Tottenham manager as they prepare to host Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to West Ham has led many to call for the manager's head but it still looks like he will be given at least until Tuesday night to turn things around, with this game crucial to their hopes of continuing in the competition this season.

Spurs and Dortmund are 11th and 10th respectively in the standings, so a win for either would catapult them towards the top eight and automatic progression to the last 16 - and leave the loser likely facing a two-legged play-off tie to extend their campaign.

Ahead of a huge night for Frank and Spurs, check out Ladbrokes' match preview, including our expert predictions, lineups and bet builder tips.

• Fixture: Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund

• Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026

• Kick-off: 20:00 GMT

• Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Our prediction: Tottenham 1-2 Borussia Dortmund

Spurs may be unbeaten at home in the Champions League so far but Dortmund are undoubtedly the toughest visitor they have had in the competition and their poor record at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium overall suggests there could be more misery in store for Frank.

While overshadowed by Bayern Munich, Dortmund are actually enjoying an impressive season under Nico Kovac having only lost once in the league in 2025/26. Given a place in the top eight is likely at stake for the winner, we think the German outfit will leave with all three points.

Tottenham

Our predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Vicario / Porro, Romero, Danso, Spence / Gray, Bergvall / Odobert, Simons, Tel / Kolo Muani

Borussia Dortmund

Our predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Kobel / Can, Anton, Schlotterbeck / Ryerson, Bellingham, Nmecha, Svensson / Adeyemi, Brandt / Guirassy

Dortmund have chopped and changed between Fabio Silva and Serhou Guirassy in recent games but one player who looks nailed onto start is Julian Brandt, who will assume his usual role drifting around behind the striker.

The German is Dortmund's joint-top scorer in the Champions League this season and feels as likely a man as any to get on the scoresheet in North London.

While struggling for form, Spurs are usually good value for a goal, netting in each of their last nine home games in all competitions.

With Dortmund a formidable attacking outfit having scored the joint-most goals in the Champions League this season, we think this could be a fairly even and competitive encounter with both sides finding the net.

That brings us on nicely to our third pick, which is for over 2.5 goals to be scored in the game. This goes in line with our prediction for a 2-1 defeat for Spurs, which has been the result of three of their last four home games in all competitions.

It could be a good game for the neutral on Tuesday evening with plenty of goals to enjoy.

Our final pick is to back an away win on Tuesday night with Dortmund set to add to Spurs' woes at home.

While they are yet to lose at home in the Champions League, their overall record on home turf is abysmal with just two wins from 11 in the Premier League and the visit of a confident Dortmund side will surely prove too much for Frank's strugglers.

View the latest football odds here.

All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.