Borussia Dortmund host Atletico Madrid within the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Tuesday searching for inspiration from their Westfalenstadion fortress to overturn a 2-1 deficit. Winners in 1997 and finalists in 2013, Dortmund are one way or the other nonetheless in with a shot at returning to the semi-finals regardless of a horrible begin in Madrid, with Edin Terzic’s overawed aspect trailing by two targets after half-hour. Dortmund composed themselves and have been arguably the higher aspect for the remaining 60 minutes however, regardless of a vital Sebastien Haller objective, will rue two slapstick defensive errors which gave Atletico the higher hand.

As it usually is, Dortmund’s trump card is their 80,000-strong Westfalenstadion — Germany’s greatest stadium and one of many largest in European soccer.

The membership haven’t misplaced there since November 2021, having confronted the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle in that point.

Dortmund robust in Europe

Despite a poor home season which sees the Champions League regulars presently out of the highest 4 and preventing to qualify subsequent season, Dortmund have been spectacular in Europe.

Tipped for relegation to the Europa League or worse, Dortmund emerged first in a tricky group containing PSG, Milan and Newcastle.

Central to their Champions League kind has been the Westfalenstadion cauldron, which is especially intimidating on European nights.

Since shedding to a Haller-inspired Ajax in November 2021 — the striker moved to Dortmund in the summertime of 2022 — Dortmund have gone 9 video games unbeaten at residence.

Dortmund have scored 15 targets in that point whereas conceding simply two, demonstrating their residence power on the European stage.

While usually unpredictable, Dortmund have been defensively strong below Terzic this season — that’s, till they gifted two targets to place Atletico in pole place on the Wanda Metropolitano final Wednesday.

Centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck was notably poor towards Atletico whereas Mats Hummels, in effective kind in Europe to this point this season, additionally did not impress.

Both Schlotterbeck and Hummels, alongside 2020 Champions League winner Niklas Suele, are all hoping for a recall to Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad forward of Euro 2024 on residence soil.

Dortmund might be buoyed by Atletico’s poor kind away from the Metropolitano this season.

Diego Simeone’s males have received simply 5 from 15 within the league. Atletico have received simply considered one of 4 in Europe this season and haven’t saved a clear sheet away from residence.

Less straightforward on eye?

Dortmund thumped Atletico 4-0 the final time the edges met in Germany, again in 2018-19.

Current Atletico midfielder Axel Witsel opened the scoring whereas Jadon Sancho, who returned to Dortmund this season on mortgage from Manchester United, acquired one other.

Then coached by Lucien Favre, Dortmund have been a much more open, attacking aspect resembling the most effective days of Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel’s tenures.

Present-day Dortmund below Terzic are much less straightforward on the attention however have a preventing spirit which is analogous to that of Simeone’s greatest Atletico sides.

This was exemplified in Saturday’s hard-fought 2-1 win away to Borussia Moenchengladbach within the Bundesliga.

Reduced to 10 males when Karim Adeyemi was despatched off with 35 minutes remaining and main by one objective, Terzic’s Dortmund aspect dug in and held on for what might be a vital victory of their top-four bid.

If Dortmund are to get previous Atletico and into the Champions League semi-finals for the fourth time of their historical past, they might want to match the metal and grit of that efficiency — towards a staff recognized for mastering these explicit expertise below Simeone.

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