Match day ten of the European Champions League (UCL) could not have come with a better fixture as season debutantes, Malaga travel to the Signal Iduna Park Stadium to play Dortmund. Dortmund coach Manuel Pellegrini’s return to his team after a trip to Chile is seen as a definite morale booster.
Pellegrini, 59, flew back to his native Chile after his side lost 4- 2 to Real Sociedad in the Spanish Primera Liga on Saturday to take part in the final burial rites of his father. He would have to book the earliest flight to Dortmund from South America as his presence is of utmost importance to his players and supporters.
Dortmund have also made significant changes to the lineup that played in Spain for Saturday’s visit of Bundesliga strugglers Augsburg, which they won 4- 2. Tonight, the Germans are likely to have more vigor and strength as goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller, Robert Lewandowsi, Captain Sebastian Hehi and attacking duo Mario Gotze and Marco Reus, who were all left out of the starting line- up last weekend, will be in action. Lewandowski and Gotze did get some playing time during the second half.
Malaga defender, Martin Demichelis said the Sparniards want to win on Tuesday night to advance to the last four as a tribute to their grieving coach and are hoping on getting an early goal to upset the home team. Having played for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga for eight years, Demichelis has this to say about the home fans: “I know how impressive this stadium is when the fans get behind their team, but that shouldn’t make us shy. We are treating this game as our final. The first leg result was surely not a bad one for us. Those who think Dortmund are almost through already are mistaking,” said the 32- year- old. “They are a team full of running; we have to be careful because they are very dangerous when they counter attack.”
Dortmund are the only team left in the Champions League yet to lose a match this season. The first leg wasn’t a stellar outing for the team as they squandered lots of chances, although winning the match helped to keep their unbeaten run.
“I have said to the boys after training, I heard a lot of negative things after the first- leg result, but everything has been really positive so far, the first- leg included,” said Jorgen Klopp. “I have no idea why people think you can just win in Malaga like that.”
“There are two ways of coping with the situation we are in: feeling only pressure or seeing only an opportunity”
“Our big mistake in the first- leg was not that we squandered chances, but how we reacted. You could see it irritated us.”
