Dortmund have injury woes for Monaco clash

DORTMUND (Germany) • Thomas Tuchel has a lengthy injury list to trim before Borussia Dortmund prepare to host free-scoring Monaco in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals today.

"It's complicated. There are a lot of things we have to deal with," said the coach, who is rushing to get the likes of Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa, winger Andre Schuerrle, midfielder Julian Weigl and defender Lukasz Piszczek fit.

The quartet sat out Saturday's 1-4 German Bundesliga thumping at Bayern Munich.

"There'll be players coming back, we don't know in what condition, but we need them with strength, form and energy," said Tuchel.

At least his chief playmaker Marco Reus returned to training on Sunday after a month sidelined by a hamstring injury and could be an option in a likely high-tempo game between two attacking sides.

Monaco fully deserved their last-eight berth, having seen off Pep Guardiola's Manchester City with a 3-1 second-leg win to progress on away goals after losing 3-5 in England.

The French league leaders, who average nearly three Ligue 1 goals a game, have problems of their own.

Right-back Djibril Sidibe is set to miss out after being hospitalised with appendicitis over the weekend. Highly rated defensive midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko is suspended, meaning Joao Moutinho should start in central midfield.

Monaco squeezed past Angers 1-0 on Saturday as Radamel Falcao scored his 25th goal of the season. He is set to partner rising star Kylian Mbappe, 18, up front.

Manager Leonardo Jardim said: "Against Dortmund, the problem will not be possession. It will be having only two days to recover."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 11, 2017, with the headline Dortmund have injury woes for Monaco clash. Subscribe