Borussia Dortmund in Malaga’s sights

DEBUTANTS Malaga have toppled European giants AC Milan and Porto on their way to the Champions League quarter-finals and have another former winner in their sights when they host Borussia Dortmund tonight

Coach Manuel Pellegrini and his players have propelled the Costa del Sol club to unprecedented success despite uncertainty over the commitment of their Qatari owner and cash-flow problems that prompted a ban from Uefa competition from next season. Chilean 
Pellegrini has moulded a squad of experienced campaigners including Joaquin, Martin Demichelis, Jeremy Toulalan and Roque Santa Cruz into a highly efficient outfit, with promising youngsters such as Isco providing a creative spark.

After beating seven-times European champions Milan 1-0 at the Rosaleda stadium on the way to topping Group C, Malaga dispatched 2004 winners Porto 2-0 in the last round on a festive night for local fans including Hollywood actor Antonio 
Banderas.

They are brimming with confidence ahead of the first leg with Dortmund – who won the Champions League in 1997 – according to former Spain winger Joaquin. “If we are here it is because we have proved we are a great team,” the 31-year-old said. “This is the time when the great teams express themselves and we have not said the last word here at the Rosaleda,” he added.

Dortmund have several players battling for fitness after a hard-fought 2-1 victory at VfB Stuttgart that kept them in a distant second place in the Bundesliga on Saturday. With only one trophy to chase for after losing the domestic battle to Bayern Munich this season, they are eager to leave their mark on Europe’s elite club competition.

“That was a good preparation for Malaga because it will be equally intense in the one-on-ones,” coach Juergen Klopp said of their Stuttgart win. Defender Marcel Schmelzer, who broke his nose in the game, is doubtful but he said he was determined to play using a face mask after undergoing surgery.