DORTMUND: Marco Reus has called on Borussia Dortmund to write history on Tuesday as the Bundesliga leaders attempt to turn around their Champions League tie at home to Tottenham Hotspur.
After losing 3-0 to Spurs at Wembley in the first leg of the last 16, Dortmund face a monumental task against Mauricio Pochettino’s team at Signal Iduna Park in the return fixture.
Only three clubs, Barcelona, Roma and Deportivo La Coruna, have ever managed to progress in the Champions League knock-out phases after losing the first leg by three goals or more.
“I think there have already been some games in the stadium where history has been written — we can do it,” said Reus, Dortmund’s top-scorer and captain who missed the first leg with injury.
“But we need a top performance and have to score at the right moment.”
Dortmund will be at near full strength, with only wing-back Lukasz Piszczek sidelined by injury
Spurs were the last team to win a Champions League game at Dortmund, in November 2017, when Son Heung-min and Harry Kane scored in a 2-1 group stage victory.
After Reus’ defiant words, Dortmund head coach Lucien Favre offered a more modest perspective.
“We know that it’s going to be difficult, but you never know,” said Favre.
Signal Iduna Park has seen some big nights in Europe, most recently when Atletico Madrid were routed 4-0 in the group stage last October.
And no Borussia fan could forget Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, now at Bayern Munich, scoring all of Dortmund’s goals when Real Madrid were routed 4-1 in the semifinals in 2013.
However, the home side must bounce back from a dreadful run of results to have any chance of overhauling Spurs.
Having crashed to a shock 2-1 defeat at strugglers Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Friday, Dortmund have just one win in seven games.
After four weeks out with a thigh injury, Reus says he is ready, and could even play the full 120 minutes if they force extra time.
“I feel good, it was clear I wouldn’t play the 90 minutes against Augsburg,” said Reus, who managed 66 minutes in Friday’s defeat.
“But we’ll see how tomorrow goes, I am ready — ready to go for the 120 minutes.”
Having been nine points ahead of Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga in December, Dortmund’s lead has eroded and Bayern drew level on 54 points at the weekend.
Dortmund only top the table on goal difference, but a win over Spurs — regardless of whether the Germans progress — would be a huge boost to confidence.
“We are very dissatisfied with the current results,” said Reus.
“We have to show more of our mentality and then we’ll get out (of the current low) again.”
Go make Champions League history against Tottenham, Marco Reus tells Borussia Dortmund teammates
Go make Champions League history against Tottenham, Marco Reus tells Borussia Dortmund teammates
- Germany midfielder wants passion as team seeks to overturn 3-0 first-leg deficit.
- Only three clubs have ever managed to progress in the Champions League knock-out phases after losing the first leg by three goals or more.
Rabiot double lifts Milan after early scare at Como
- Milan are second in the standings on 43 points, three behind rivals Inter Milan and three clear of Napoli in third, while Como are sixth with 34 points
COMO, Italy: AC Milan came from behind to earn a 3-1 victory at Como on Thursday, with Adrien Rabiot scoring twice to keep the away side in the Serie A title race.
Milan are second in the standings on 43 points, three behind rivals Inter Milan and three clear of Napoli in third, while Como are sixth with 34 points.
Como made the brighter start and took the lead after 10 minutes when Marc-Oliver Kempf rose to head home a corner.
Despite the hosts controlling much of the first half, Milan struck in stoppage time as Christopher Nkunku calmly converted from the penalty spot after Kempf was penalized for pushing Rabiot.
Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan produced a series of strong saves to keep Como at bay after the break before Milan took the lead in the 55th minute when Rabiot knocked the ball in from close range.
Como were denied an equalizer as Nico Paz saw his effort from outside the box crash against the crossbar. Milan then sealed the win two minutes from time when Rabiot caught the Como defense off guard with a low strike from distance that crept into the bottom corner.
“This was a team victory, we showed our mentality,” Rabiot told DAZN after being named Man of the Match.
“We suffered a lot in the first half, but we talked during the break, came out with a different mentality, we all came out fighting for the three points.
“We gave something extra and I am very happy to score two goals, obviously, but above all I’m pleased with the mentality of the team.”
While Rabiot provided the goals, another Frenchman, goalkeeper Maignan, made his mark with a string of crucial saves.
“We knew that playing here would be difficult, we were well-prepared. We started a little sluggish and they scored, but we managed to keep the game open, and then all together started to play as a team,” Maignan said.
“We know these are great nights for Milan with an atmosphere like this. We suffered, we used up a lot of energy and left it all on the field.”
