Borussia Dortmund vs Malaga: Dangerous Dortmund won't fluff their lines twice

 

Borussia Dortmund missed a host of chances against Malaga in Spain last week, but Kevin Hatchard thinks they'll put things right in the home leg to reach the Champions  League semi-finals.

 

Borussia Dortmund vs Malaga, Tue 19:45 BST, Live on Sky Sports 1

Match Odds: Dortmund 1.45, Malaga 9.0, the draw 4.9

 

The first leg of this quarter-final tie was one of the most entertaining goalless draws I have seen for years. Borussia Dortmund created a host of chances, but either  failed to hit the target or found Malaga keeper Willy Caballero in frustratingly excellent form. Malaga also created opportunities (mainly from set-pieces), but BVB  keeper Roman Weidenfeller also protected his clean sheet manfully.

 

Some observers have suggested that Dortmund's failure to score an away goal could prove crucial in the tie, but I suspect the Germans' coach Jurgen Klopp will take  plenty of positives from last week's trip to La Rosaleda. Dortmund's defence kept Malaga at arms' length, their midfield had a grip for long spells (Ilkay Gundogan was  outstanding), and the attacking triumvirate of Marco Reus, Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski threatened throughout without managing to add the finishing touch.

 

I suspect Malaga's best chance to reach the last four may have gone. While their home form in the Champions League has been very strong, Manuel Pellegrini's men have  won just one of their five away games. Opta tell us no-one has kept more CL clean sheets than Malaga (five), but Los Boquerones have personnel problems in defence,  with Manuel Iturra and captain Weligton both suspended.

 

A weakened Malaga side lost 4-2 at Real Sociedad at the weekend (their plane was struck by lightning three times on the way to the match), and the club's preparation  for the Dortmund clash has unfortunately been disrupted by the death of Pellegrini's father. The coach flew to his native Chile for the funeral, and will arrive in  Germany on the day of the game.

 

Both clubs rested key players at the weekend, but while Malaga lost their match 4-2, Dortmund beat Augsburg by the same scoreline at Signal Iduna Park. Lewandowski  used his appearance as a second-half sub to extend his scoring run in the Bundesliga to ten matches. The Polish international has now scored 27 goals in 38 games in  all competitions - he is 3.9 in the First Goalscorer market, and 1.9 in the To Score market. Naysayers will point to the 229 minutes he has gone without a Champions League goal, but his recent league form shows he's certainly not lacking confidence.

 

Dortmund have won all four of their Champions League home games, scoring seven goals and conceding just one. In all competitions they have won seven of their last  eight home matches, and all seven of those victories were by at least a two-goal margin. If Dortmund grab the opener, then Malaga will have to push for an equaliser,  and that would play into the hands of one of Europe's top counter-attacking sides. Malaga will be without key defenders, and I don't think those that remain will be  able to resist Dortmund's sparkling attack for a second match running.

 

Recommended Bet

Back Robert Lewandowski to be First Goalscorer at 3.9

Best Bet

Back Borussia Dortmund -1.5 on the Asian Handicap at 2.11

 

Bet HERE

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