Villarreal head to Dortmund with Foyth and Carlos Romero in doubt for Champions League opener

Villarreal return to the Champions League on Tuesday with a tough visit to Borussia Dortmund in Germany. They do so at a delicate moment: the team from Castellón have failed to win any of their first four league games and arrive at their European debut with low morale and key absences in Íñigo Pérez's squad.

• Juan Foyth is definitely out due to muscle discomfort carried since the match in Vitoria.
• Carlos Romero missed the weekend squad and remains a major doubt for the trip to Dortmund.
• Villarreal have recorded two draws and two defeats in their first four LaLiga matches.
• Borussia Dortmund already got the better of Villarreal in the previous edition of the Champions League.
• The team will train on Monday at their training ground and travel to Germany in the afternoon, without testing the pitch at the German stadium.

A Champions League debut marked by a poor LaLiga start

Villarreal reach the top continental competition with one of the worst starts to a season the club can remember. Four league rounds have been enough to set alarm bells ringing: two draws and two defeats have left the Yellow Submarine without a win and in urgent need of a change of direction.

The European opener looks like an opportunity to reset the mood, although the opponent does not invite optimism. Borussia Dortmund are a Champions League regular and already know how to beat Villarreal in the competition, a precedent that looms over this fixture.

Juan Foyth ruled out for the German opener

Villarreal's defence will be missing an important piece in Dortmund. Juan Foyth will not be available for Íñigo Pérez. The Argentine defender has been dealing with muscle discomfort since the match played in Vitoria, and the overload already forced him out of the squad for the latest league round.

His absence forces the coach to rebuild the right flank in a demanding scenario. Foyth is a key figure for his defensive strength and ability to join the attack with purpose, and his loss comes precisely when the team needs stability at the back the most.

Carlos Romero, the main doubt before flying to Germany

The biggest uncertainty in the squad is Carlos Romero. The player could not make the list last weekend due to discomfort that has yet to be clearly defined. His progress will determine whether he boards the plane to Germany or misses a second consecutive match.

The wing-back's situation will force the coaching staff to make a decision in the hours before departure. If Romero is not ready in time, Villarreal would lose width on the left side and add a second defensive setback to an already difficult game.

Travel plan without a training session at Borussia Dortmund's stadium

Villarreal plan to train on Monday morning at their training ground before heading to Dortmund in the early afternoon. The club will not hold a session on the pitch at the German stadium, although they will attend the official pre-match press conferences.

That planning follows the club's usual approach for European away trips, prioritising work at their own facilities and avoiding extra sessions at the opponent's stadium. Adaptation to the venue will be left for the warm-up on Tuesday, with everything already at stake.

Champions League as an escape route for Íñigo Pérez

The European opener comes at a time when Íñigo Pérez's project is beginning to be tested. League results have not helped and the Champions League appears as a chance to change the narrative, but also as a high-pressure scenario given the level of the opponent and the demands of the competition.

A good result in Germany would calm the waters and restore confidence to a dressing room hit by the poor start. Opposite them, Borussia Dortmund will look to make home advantage count and begin a tournament in which they always expect to play a leading role.

Key factors in Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal

The German fixture pits two sides with opposite dynamics at this stage of the season. While Villarreal are chasing their first official win of the campaign, Dortmund enter the Champions League backed by their home crowd and with the experience of having beaten the Spanish club in the previous edition.

Defensive solidity will be crucial for Íñigo Pérez's team, especially given Foyth's absence and Romero's possible withdrawal. If Villarreal manage to match Dortmund's tempo in the opening period, they will have a chance to take a positive result that lifts the mood around the side.