When a team that is still unbeaten and has just pulled off an enthralling comeback to go top of their domestic league comes up against an opponent that appears to be on the ropes because they have not won any of their last eight games, it is particularly important to listen carefully to the words of the coach.

Not only is Lucien Favre an expert on the French league, in which AS Monaco play their football, but he has studied the team from the principality in detail. It is the study of numerous videos rather than a cursory glance at the league table, which shows that last season's runners-up are languishing third from bottom in 18th place, that has strengthened the conviction of the Borussia Dortmund coach about their quality: "Even though they haven't started well, we're coming up against a very good team." Favre lists the illustrious names of the seven Monaco players who represented their countries at the World Cup in Russia in the summer and added: "Their defeats have often come down to small details. They had seven clear chances to score and lost 2-0 against Saint Etienne."

Manuel Akanji is of a similar mind. "I'm expecting a good game against a good opponent," he said. "We're going into the game to win it and we're looking forward to playing in front of our supporters again – and I believe the fans are looking forward to the Champions League again too."

The 7-0 win over Nuremberg and the 4-2 victory over Leverkusen have generated a new-found sense of euphoria around the Borsigplatz and, should the team manage to follow up their extremely fortuitous 1-0 win in Bruges in the opening day with a home victory over Monaco, their prospects of fulfilling their target – a place in the last 16 in the spring of 2019 – would look very good indeed. "We've improved from game to game in a certain way. We want to continue that. I'm hoping for the best tomorrow," announced Akanji.