The task Borussia Dortmund face in the return leg on 8 March is clear: they must win by at least two goals at Signal Iduna Park if they are to make it through to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. Both the players and coach spoke of an "extremely difficult result" in the wake of the highly unlucky 1-0 defeat away to Benfica in the Portuguese capital.

There has always been the rule of thumb that scoring away is half the battle, while a narrow 1-0 defeat is a "good result". A glance at the statistics shows the latter to be true: BVB have made it through following a 1-0 away defeat in the first leg on three of four occasions in Europe, beating Lazio 2-0 in 1995, winning 3-1 against Deportivo La Coruna after extra-time in 1994 and securing a 2-0 victory over AS Roma in 1992. Only in 1990 did BVB fail to make it through after losing the first leg 1-0: the Black and Yellows beat Anderlecht 2-1 at the Westfalenstadion in the return leg but still exited the UEFA Cup.

Incidentally, the theory of the "all-important away goal" is of minor importance. On six occasions in their European history, BVB have lost a first leg away from home (in which they scored at least once) by one goal. On three of those occasions, they made it through; on three, they were knocked out.

A 1-0 win in the return leg against Benfica on 8 March would see BVB at least take the tie into extra time, while a 2-0 victory would take them through. But conceding just once would have a dramatic impact on the result and take the Portuguese through to the last eight instead.

To make matters more complicated, BVB have only kept a clean sheet in seven of their 30 matches this season. One goal for Benfica would leave Borussia needing three to go through. But if they can perform at the same level as yesterday and have a little bit more luck in front of goal, they'll manage it...

Boris Rupert

Score after 90 minutes

1-0 – Extra time
2-0 – BVB through
2-1 – Benfica through
3-1 – BVB through
3-2 – Benfica through