Borussia Dortmund train at private venue in London hours before Champions League game with Chelsea

Borussia Dortmund train on a bobbly £1,000-an-hour hired pitch at the Artillery Ground in Moorgate, hours before they face Chelsea in the Champions League – but it’s a big step up from nine years ago!

  • Borussia Dortmund face Chelsea in a huge Champions League clash on Tuesday 
  • Edin Terzic’s side hold a 1-0 lead after victory in the first leg back in February 
  • They have trained at the £1,000-an-hour pitch at the Artillery Ground in London

Borussia Dortmund have been spotted training on a £1,000-an-hour hired pitch in central London ahead of their crunch Champions League clash with Chelsea on Tuesday evening. 

The German side face Graham Potter’s Blues at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of their last-16 tie, holding a 1-0 lead after Karim Adeyemi’s decisive goal in the first leg.

Dortmund trained at Chelsea’s stadium on Monday in preparation for the match, with Edin Terzic’s side having won 10 successive games since football resumed in Germany following the World Cup.

However, on the day of the game, Dortmund were snapped having a pre-game warm-up on a bobbly surface at the Artillery Ground in Islington.

Just five minutes from Moorgate and Old Street stations, the private venue belongs to the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) – which is associated with the oldest regiment in the British Army.

Borussia Dortmund were spotted training in London on Tuesday morning ahead of their Champions League last-16 second leg clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the evening

They were put through their paces at the Honourable Artillery Company in central London

They were put through their paces at the Honourable Artillery Company in central London

Dortmund's pre-game training session took place just hours before Tuesday evening's clash

Dortmund’s pre-game training session took place just hours before Tuesday evening’s clash

Hiring a pitch at the iconic venue in the borough of Islington costs £1,000 per hour plus VAT

Hiring a pitch at the iconic venue in the borough of Islington costs £1,000 per hour plus VAT 

It hosts several types of events, along with sports such as cricket, rugby, archery and football, while it maintains an active regiment as a key part of the Army Reserve.

Hiring a pitch at the iconic venue in the borough of Islington costs £1,000 per hour plus VAT. 

It is expected that Dortmund underwent a light session as they began to warm-up their players in preparation for the 8pm kick-off in west London. 

It is not the first time the German giants have entertained a random training session on the day of the game of a Champions League tie against an English club.

Back in 2014, Dortmund’s players were spotted taking part in a training session in Regent’s Park ahead of their group stage clash with Arsenal.

The public park hosted the German side – who were then managed by Jurgen Klopp – despite usually being the venue for matches in the Camden and Regent’s Park Sunday league.

At the time, it was described by the club as a ‘pre-warm-up’ training session on the recreational playing fields.

On that occasion they went onto lose to the Gunners 2-0 thanks to goals from Yaya Sanogo and Alexis Sanchez. 

Dortmund had trained at Stamford Bridge on Monday night as part of their preparations

Dortmund had trained at Stamford Bridge on Monday night as part of their preparations

Edin Terzic's side - who are currently on a superb run of form - arrived in London on Monday

Edin Terzic’s side – who are currently on a superb run of form – arrived in London on Monday