Borussia Dortmund has been a joy to watch in Europe this season, delighting fans with their swashbuckling style of football. They broke the record for goals scored in the competition’s group stage when they racked up 21 goals to finish in top spot above defending champions Real Madrid. The German outfit then displayed their offensive brilliance in the round of 16 against Benfica, winning 4-0 at home to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit.
Providing the impetus for Dortmund’s attack is the highly-rated Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. He has scored a team-best seven goals in the Champions League this season. Dortmund have also been fortunate that they unearthed a young talent in Ousmane Dembele. The 19-year-old French international has been exceptional in his maiden European campaign, dishing out five assists for BVB.
Dortmund will be licking their chops at the prospect of facing a Monaco defense that has conceded eight goals in their last two European away games and 13 in their entire Champions League campaign. That will be music to the ears of Dortmund head coach Thomas Tuchel who has made Signal Iduna Park a fortress for the German side this season. Dortmund are unbeaten at Signal Iduna Park with 17 victories and four draws from 21 matches in all competitions this campaign.
Monaco were given all they could handle in the previous round by English powerhouse Manchester City. The Red and Whites were well on-course toward crashing out at home until a terrific comeback in the final 13 minutes saw them advance via the away goals rule. Monaco made history in that round-of-16 tie as they became the first team to advance while conceding six goals.
Defense was a major issue for the French side over the two legs against City, so it should be a bit refreshing to see them keep a clean sheet in their last Ligue 1 match. Monaco’s 1-0 win over Angers over the weekend helped them establish a three-point gap at the top of the league table. Radamel Falcao made a triumphant return to the starting lineup, scoring the all-important winner against Angers in the 61st minute. The Colombian striker has now scored 17 goals in Ligue 1 this season.
He will look to keep the momentum going against Dortmund in their first-leg clash on Tuesday. This will be the first meeting between the two sides in a European competition. Monaco’s record against Bundesliga clubs in Europe is 7-5-4. Monaco have already lost once at Germany this season, bowing to Leverkusen in the group stage. Tiémoué Bakayoko, whose late goal dumped City out of the competition, is suspended for the trip to Germany. Expected to take his spot in the Monaco defense is right-back Almamy Toure.
Writer’s Prediction
Dortmund (-192) edge past Monaco, 4-2, in a high-scoring affair.
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