Malaga must kick on ahead of daunting return leg in Dortmund

Malaga have been on a rather indifferent domestic run in their wintertime Champions League hiatus, picking up wins in just half their 14 games. Their round of 16 first leg loss to Porto precipitated another four game winless streak, but in keeping with the spirit  of a club that has been achieving against a backdrop of adversity for since last season they came back and knocked the much vaunted latter stage regulars out of the competition in the return match a La Roselada.

Malaga are 23/10 for victory, whilst Dortmund are 6/4 favourites – the draw is 23/10.

The Andalucians are at home once more against their German foes and it’ll be a significant boon to their chances of winning the Wednesday face off. Malaga have won four of their five Champions League home games this season to nil, which they can be backed to do so once more at healthy 5/1. Such a solid home record should bring about some foreboding for the Germans, who have won just one of their five away from Signal Iduna Park.

Malaga are coached by Manuel Pelligrini, who took similarly unfancied Villareal to the semi final stage in 2006 and it’s 15/8 that they qualify from this testy draw, but while their defensive resolve will stand them in good they face a side that have been denied a goal just twice in 39 games this season. Coral go 8/13 about both sides notching goals.

Dortmund are formidable at home, having clubbed at least three goals in each of the six wins they’ve notched in their last seven Signal Iduna Park outings, making it imperative that Pellegrini’s men profit from their first leg home advantage. After a intensely competitive clash with Stuttgart at the weekend the Germans are nursing a fair few knocks with Sven Bender and Kevin Grosskreutz doubtful participants. Unfortunately for the hosts Robert Lewandowski – scorer of six goals in his last five games – is not among the walking wounded. The prolific Pole is 6/5 to score any time and 9/2 to score last at La Roselada.