UCL: Dortmund have injury concerns for Monaco quarter-final

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At the start of the season, many people predicted Borussia Dortmund would advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Only very few teams - if any - can perform equally well internationally and domestic.

After a thrilling and high-scoring two legs against Manchester City in the round of 16, Monaco advanced on away goals.

The Germans welcome the Ligue 1 leaders to the Westfalenstadion on Tuesday evening before travelling to the principality for the return leg next Wednesday.

Luis Enrique's men were also beaten 4-0 by PSG in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie but something remarkable happened next.

As you would expect at this stage of the Champions League, both sides are in good form with Monaco only suffering two defeats in their last 22 outings. Leonardo Jardim's team now lead Paris Saint-Germain in the Ligue 1 table with 71 points in 30 games.

Monaco was second best for much of the game, which was decided by Radamel Falcao's winning goal on the hour mark in what was his first appearance after six matches out.

Meanwhile Monaco have stunned everyone in Europe this season with their crop of gifted young footballers.

It's the second time in three years Monaco have reached the last eight of the competition.

He added: "We love the atmosphere here at home, we love this stage and we've shown to what we're capable of".

Against Benfica in the Round of 16, they also demonstrated their offensive class to come back from a 1-0 first-leg defeat to win 4-0 at home.

Dembele has featured in 39 games for Dortmund this season and he says he is not surprised by the rapid progress he has made with the Bundesliga outfit.

Injuries have hit Dortmund hard, however.

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Playmaker Marco Reus (hamstring) has returned to training, while Shinji Kagawa, Andre Schurrle, Julian Weigl and Lukasz Piszczek are doubts.

The Gabon hitman will receive ample support in the shape of another outrageously gifted young Frenchman, Ousmane Dembele, and the equally exciting up-and-coming United States of America playmaker Christian Pulisic. Juventus remain the dominant force in Serie A but Barcelona have endured a more troublesome season as they sit behind Real Madrid in the LaLiga standings. The American global continues to perform and scored in the second leg against Benfica in the round of 16.

The visitors won't have a full squad either, with Babayoko out though suspension while Djibril Sidibe was recently hospitalized with appendicitis.

Tuchel has used a 4-3-2-1 formation and a 3-4-2-1 formation this season.

As mentioned before, both clubs share a similar identity and will look to outscore each other on the pitch. Captain Marcel Schmelzer can play in the midfield and his traditional left-back position. Gonzalo Castro went off with a knock.

Dortmund are glittering with talent up front, too. "So the momentum is probably on their side in a match I would have otherwise described as 50-50", Tuchel said.

Manager Leonardo Jardim said: "Against Dortmund, the problem will not be possession".

"I don't regret my choice at all", he said. There's respect and we're cautious.

"Both teams rely on youth, pace and attacking football and make the most of their forwards' individual qualities", he said.

This is the first competitive encounter between Dortmund and Monaco.

With two top-heavy sides whose strength is in attacking, that is an enticing outlook and could lead to a spectacular tie over two legs starting in Dortmund on Tuesday.

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