Borussia Dortmund know they will need to produce a focused and committed team performance in the return leg against Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow evening. Their task will be to put the first-leg result to one side and win over the crowd; and of course, should a chance to progress emerge over the course of the match: to seize it!

"We know that it'll be difficult," said Lucien Favre of the uphill battle facing his side. Following a 3-0 defeat in the first leg, Borussia Dortmund will now need to record a victory by the same margin over Tottenham in 90 minutes if they are to force extra-time. Should their English opponents grab an away goal, the Black & Yellows will need to score five times. Nonetheless, the coach was full of smiles and tellingly suggested: "You never know..."

Captain Marco Reus added: "There have already been some matches at this stadium that have made history. I believe that we're capable of achieving the impossible. We need to believe in it and obviously we'll need a top performance, we'll need to go to our limits if we are to then get the goals in the right moments. It goes without saying that it's important to find the right balance between defence and offense. If they score a goal, then it'll obviously be very difficult."

Borussia Dortmund can draw hope from the fact they have scored three goals – the number they require tomorrow – in each of their home games in 2019: 5-1 vs. Hannover, 3-3 AET vs. Bremen, 3-3 vs. Hoffenheim and 3-2 vs. Leverkusen. What will be important is to keep it tight at the back if they are to get through their fourth Champions League home game of the season without conceding. "We need to sort it out," said Favre of the numerous defensive errors committed in recent weeks. "We mustn't let in any unnecessary goals. Rather, we'll need a top performance and will have to play intelligently too." Then "everything's possible". Reus announced: "I'm ready. And I'm also ready to go 120 minutes."
Boris Rupert