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Now or never as BVB fight for life against Madrid

Trailing Real Madrid CF 3-0, Jürgen Klopp says there is only one way for his Borussia Dortmund team, with Robert Lewandowski back, to approach the second leg.

Jürgen Klopp speaks to his Dortmund squad in training on Monday
Jürgen Klopp speaks to his Dortmund squad in training on Monday ©AFP/Getty Images

Borussia Dortmund coach Jürgen Klopp says it is OK to go out to Real Madrid CF but that he has no plans to do so as the German team, "second-half specialists", attempt their greatest comeback yet: overturning a 3-0 first-leg defeat. There is, Klopp says, only one way to approach this quarter-final decider and, with Robert Lewandowski back from suspension, they can depend on a man who lifts their game to another level according to wary Carlo Ancelotti.

Dortmund
Jürgen Klopp, coach
I don't think it is difficult to choose an approach for tomorrow's game. We got a result in Madrid which does not leave us with much choice. As always, we will give our all to win. I cannot understand 100% why so many people are saying that we have to score in the first five minutes.

I don't know how many miracles have been proclaimed before they happened. We don't have any right to speak about that, but we have the right to give everything tomorrow and perform with will power. If we somehow get a result that takes us through, then great; if not, we want to say goodbye to the Champions League with a good performance.

You can go out against Real Madrid, that's not a problem. But if you are not fully there, you will concede more than three goals. And I don't want that. In Madrid, we did not play well, but despite that we had many good chances. We did not defend well, we did not use our chances – that's what we want to change.

In the Champions League, it is all about delaying the moment when you exit the competition. Last year we went out in the final. This year it looks likely that it will be the quarter-finals. But it is not over yet. Currently, we are sort of second-half specialists and this is the second half of the quarter-finals. We want to win it.

Weekend result
Saturday: Dortmund 2-1 VfL Wolfsburg  (Lewandowski 51, Reus 77; Olić 34)

Langerak; Piszczek, Papastathopoulos, Hummels, Grosskreutz; Kehl, Şahin (Jojić 46), Aubameyang (Durm 46), Mkhitaryan (Kirch 76), Reus; Lewandowski.

• Dortmund won just their fourth home game in 12, coming from behind to beat Wolfsburg with the help of Lewandowski's 17th Bundesliga goal this season.

Team news
Roman Weidenfeller missed out against Wolfsburg due to a hand injury sustained in Madrid and while Zlatan Alomerović, 22, has been drafted into the squad to provide cover, Klopp says his No1 trained well on Monday. Nuri Şahin is doubtful with a knock and Sebastian Kehl is suspended.

Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti, coach

Lewandowski returning makes this a different game. Everyone knows the quality he brings. His Dortmund team-mates are always able to find him. His presence lifts them to another level.

You don't even think about possibly going out. Ifs and buts are of no use in football. You don't bother. It will be our task to give our best and play like we did in the first leg. Tomorrow, it is the quarter-final second leg and there is no need to motivate the players. We are within touching distance of the semis – what bigger motivation do you need?

There is no need to change the system or go for a more defensive approach. They have 90 minutes to score three, four goals. We have 90 minutes to score one, which would make things very difficult for them. The earlier we score, the easier it will be for us.

We have to find a balance between defence and attack. But we want to play our attacking brand of football. That's where our strength lies. That's what we have to bring to the pitch. But you cannot attack for the entire 90 minutes. Together, we will have to defend well at times.

I believe we can play at a very high level again. Two [recent Liga] defeats costs us dearly, but the team responded well, physically and mentally. We can continue at this level until the end of the season.

Weekend result
Saturday: Real Sociedad de Fútbol 0-4 Real Madrid (Illarramendi 45, Bale 66, Pepe 85, Morata 88)
Diego López; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Nacho; Alolnso (Casemiro 88), Illarramendi; Bale (Morata 86), Isco (Di María 81), Modrić; Benzema.

• Following back-to-back losses to FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC at the end of March, Madrid have won their last three matches in all competitions, scoring 12 goals and conceding none.

Team news
Cristiano Ronaldo did not feature at the weekend because of a knee injury picked up in the first leg, and any hope of him recovering probably ended when he departed training early on Monday. Gareth Bale is expected to overcome a knee knock and Ancelotti confirmed that Pepe and Sergio Ramos will start at centre-back, with Fábio Coentrão also getting the nod.

Match fact
• Madrid have gone through in 42 of 55 European ties after winning the first leg at home, including all eight when they initially triumphed 3-0, most recently against Galatasaray AŞ in their 2012/13 quarter-final.

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