Once the UEFA Champions League anthem has played over the tannoy, Borussia Dortmund are in the zone. Apart from the 8-4 win over Legia Warsaw, where tactics went out of the window, they have shown great focus and concentration in the competition this season.

The Black and Yellows have only conceded six goals on Europe's biggest stage this term – four of them coming in the two 2-2 draws with Real Madrid – which equates to an average of 0.86 goals per game. In the Bundesliga, that figure stands at 1.14. In front of goal, too, Thomas Tuchel's charges have been more efficient internationally, where they have averaged 2.43 goals a game, than they have domestically, where that figure lies at 2.11.

"We love this platform, especially the atmosphere at home, and we've shown what we're capable of in the Champions League," said the coach, more in reference to the team's achievements than the figures cited above: Borussia finished top of their group ahead of reigning champions Real Madrid, before sweeping aside Benfica to reach the last eight.

Up next are AS Monaco, a team that have drawn praise across Europe for their attacking might, but looked vulnerable in defence in their last-16 tie with Manchester City: never before has a team conceded six goals in a UEFA Champions League knockout tie and still progressed to the next round. "We need to ensure that we have the stronger defence, that we are cleverer, more intelligent and more composed," said captain Marcel Schmelzer in an interview with kicker magazine: "Our defenders have a great deal of international experience. If that's on show in our performance, I think we've got a good chance."

Nonetheless, it is not a tie whose outcome will be decided in the first leg. "If we want to progress, then we'll need four top halves," said Thomas Tuchel, who will show his players "spaces that we want to play in to bring out our strengths." He will "give them encouragement and urge them to be brave" in an environment that is likely to make a real impression on their equally young opponents, who have yet to play in front of a 66,000-strong crowd. "We will attack when we don't have the ball, and we will attack when we do have the ball," announced the coach, continuing: "That's the advantage you have when you play at home first."

Julian Weigl, Lukasz Piszczek and Shinji Kagawa are expected to be fit, while Marco Reus is in contention for a squad berth. "He participated in team training for the first time yesterday," Tuchel explained. "If we include him, then we'll only do so with a view to him coming off the bench." And why not? Champions League comebacks are Reus' speciality – just ask Legia Warsaw...

Boris Rupert