There will be a first in the last 16 of the Europa League – Borussia Dortmund have never played Tottenham Hotspur in a competitive match before. It will be the next important hurdle for BVB on their way to the final in Basel on the 18th May. 

Ex-BVB player Alexander Frei, who conducted the draw in Nyon, Switzerland, flashed a mischievous grin when pulling out BVB and Spurs together from the pot. Even the 36 year old, currently employed in FC Basel’s youth department, knew that he had given his former club from Westphalia quite the challenge with the selected opponent, as Spurs are a team wholly on par with BVB.

Tottenham on a run of good form

Two-time English champions Tottenham from North London comfortably moved into the round of last 16 after their 3-0 victory over Fiorentina on Thursday night, after a 1-1 draw in the first leg. It was a similar situation at the start of the competition: Spurs were the undisputed winners of Group J with four wins, a draw and a single loss from matches against Anderlecht, AS Monaco and Qarabağ. 

The Londoners are enjoying a similarly successful campaign in the Premier League to BVB in the Bundesliga, only two points behind league-leaders Leicester City and still in contention to win the league for the first time since 1961.

Both teams have won the Cup Winner's Cup

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Der BVB am Donnerstagabend nach dem Einzug ins Achtelfinale.

In Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham we have two entirely traditional clubs going up against each other. Spurs, founded in London in 1882, were the first British team to win the European Cup in 1963. BVB followed suit three years later, becoming the first German team to win a prestigious international title – the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. 

Aside from this success and their two championships (1951 and 1961) Tottenham have won the FA Cup eight times and the Football League Cup four times. They are even ahead of the Black and Yellows in one matter: they won the Uefa Cup (now the Europa League) in 1972 as well as in 1984. BVB of course would like to spoil their chances of a third success and finally win the competition after two final defeats in 1993 and 2002. 

Reactions to the match on the BVB site will follow in the afternoon. Information about advance ticket sales for the first leg on 10 March at the Signal Iduna Park will also be available shortly. (djg)