Prediction: Borussia Dortmund vs Monaco

Verdict: Monaco not to lose

Best Odds: 6/5

Bookmaker: bet365

Seasoned Champions League participants Borussia Dortmund will have to show serious improvement if they want to prevent this year’s surprise package from making it to the semi-finals. Monaco are brimming with confidence ahead of the trip to Signal-Iduna Park and they will be looking to pile more misery on the Millionaires.

Borussia Dortmund

Having seriously raised the expectations after several years of outstanding results, Borussia Dortmund are having a sub-par season for their standards. The Millionaires currently occupy fourth position in the Bundesliga standings, although they are still in the race for Champions League and DFB Pokal trophies. Borussia will again be vying arch rivals Bayern for the domestic cup trophy, but they will be under pressure to perform in said match after the weekend’s 4-1 defeat in the league at Allianz Arena. Thomas Tuchel’s injury-hit squad just couldn’t match their more illustrious opponents on the road, and the heavy loss is a definite cause for concern ahead of the clash with high-flying Monaco. Borussia Dortmund did pretty well in Champions League games at Signal-Iduna Park this season, winning their last three matches there, hammering Benfica 4-0 in the process, but this will definitely be a whole different ball game. The Millionaires appear to be going through a very rough patch and with so many important players missing, we have doubts they can win this game.

Team News

Marco Reus and Mario Gotze are definitely out, whereas Julian Weigl, Shinji Kagawa, Erik Durm and Andre Schurrle are all rated doubtful.

Monaco

Monaco are without a doubt the surprise package of the season in both Ligue 1 and Champions League, and they don’t appear to be slowing down. Many believed they had missed a good opportunity in the first leg against Manchester City, but the Principality club managed to overturn a two-goal deficit and secure a place in the last eight. Leonardo Jardim’s side have since lost the Coupe de la Ligue final to PSG, but secured a place in the Coupe de France semis, while staying three points clear at the Ligue 1 summit. This means that the dream season continues for Monaco and the next objective is to try and make it to the Champions League semi-finals. While Borussia Dortmund are rarely a favourable opposition in the latter stages, this is definitely a good time to be facing the Millionaires, who have just suffered a heavy defeat to Bayern Munich and have doubts over several first team regulars. It is also important to note that Monaco won four straight matches on the road since the 5-3 loss to Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.

Team News

Important midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko is banned, while full-back Djibril Sidibe could miss the Dortmund game through appendicitis.

Key Factors to Consider

• Monaco overturned a two-goal deficit vs Man City
• Dortmund won last four CL fixtures at home
• The Millionaires kept four clean sheets in last five home games
• Monaco won last four matches on the road
• Radamel Falcao scored 6 goals in 6 CL fixtures this season

Conclusion

This match comes at a bad time for Borussia Dortmund, who are shaken by the 4-1 loss to Bayern Munich and have a number of important missings. Monaco, on the other hand, are high with confidence and we are backing them to make an important step towards the semis.

Verdict: Monaco not to lose

Best Odds: 6/5

Bookmaker: bet365