Borussia Dortmund vs Atletico Madrid predicted XIs: Confirmed team news and probable line-ups
Borussia Dortmund are aiming to overturn a 2-1 first-leg defeat when Atletico Madrid visit the BVB Stadion for Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final.
Atletico looked comfortable when the pair met in the Spanish capital, leading 2-0 and creating plenty of chances. However, their poor finishing let them down, before Dortmund pulled a goal back through Sebastien Haller.
That’s a concern for Atletico, who have been shaky away from home this season. They could rue those first-leg chances if they struggle to perform on their travels again.
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Two sides chasing a golden opportunity
Both Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid were once recurring dark horses to win the Champions League, but they’ve slipped from that status in recent years.
Dortmund haven’t been in a Champions League semi-final since finishing as runners-up in 2013, while Atletico Madrid last appeared in the semis in 2017. They’ve both been Champions League regulars in that time, but the gap between them and the best in Europe has been growing.
That makes their second-leg clash on Tuesday massive for both sides, as one of them will end their wait for an appearance in the last four. With Barcelona or PSG awaiting them in the next round, they are in with a shot of appearing in the final.
There’s extra motivation for Borussia Dortmund in this clash, and not just because they could return to Wembley 11 years after that final defeat to Bayern Munich. The battle for a fifth Champions League spot has come down to the Bundesliga and the Premier League, with Dortmund currently fifth in Germany’s top flight.
That means a win for Dortmund on Tuesday would go a long way towards keeping Germany’s slender coefficient advantage over England.
This is far from the glamour tie of the round, but these sides have a rare opportunity which they can’t afford to miss.
Borussia Dortmund vs Atletico Madrid team news
Borussia Dortmund have plenty of options in the wide positions, with Donyell Malen and Jadon Sancho expected to get the nod. That would leave the likes of Karim Adeyemi, Marco Reus and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens on the bench.
Up front, Sebastien Haller went off injured early in Dortmund’s weekend win over Borussia Monchengladbach. Niclas Fullkrug is likely to lead the line, with Haller facing a late fitness test to make the bench.
As for Atletico, Thomas Lemar and Memphis Depay are set to miss out for the visitors. That should leave Alvaro Morata up front alongside Antoine Griezmann, with Simeone expected to return to a back-three despite changing things for the weekend win over Girona.
The visitors are also without Mario Hermoso in defence, so Simeone is set to stick with the same back three which started in the first leg. At times this term, Atletico have pushed their wing-backs deeper into a back five in Europe, which could be the case here given they have defensive injuries and a slender lead to protect.
Borussia Dortmund vs Atletico Madrid Predicted XIs
Borussia Dortmund (4-3-3): Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Sabitzer, Can, Brandt; Malen, Fullkrug, Sancho
Atletico Madrid (3-5-2): Oblak; Witsel, Gimenez, Azpilicueta; Molina, Llorente, Koke, De Paul, Lino; Griezmann, Morata
