Atletico holds a slender lead after securing a 2-1 victory in the first leg at Wanda Metropolitano, setting the stage for an intriguing encounter at Signal Iduna Park. Dortmund struggled in the first half of the quarter-final, conceding goals to Rodrigo De Paul and Samuel Lino, but showed improvement in the second half, with Sebastien Haller pulling one back in the 81st minute.
With Dortmund now enjoying home advantage, the tie is finely balanced as they look to overturn the deficit. Dortmund's recent form includes a 2-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga, positioning them fifth in the league standings.
In the Champions League, Dortmund progressed past PSV Eindhoven in the last-16 stage and impressed in the group stage, topping Group F ahead of Paris Saint-Germain. However, they haven't reached the Champions League semi-finals since their memorable run in 2012-13.
Atletico, on the other hand, responded well after a 3-0 defeat to Barcelona, securing wins over Villarreal and Girona in La Liga. Currently fourth in the league, they have a five-point lead over fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao.
In the Champions League, Atletico defeated Inter Milan in the last-16 stage and remained unbeaten in the group stage, topping their group which included Lazio, Feyenoord, and Celtic. However, they haven't progressed past the quarter-finals since their semi-final appearance in 2016-17.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Dortmund had to manage without Jadon Sancho in their match against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday due to illness, but the on-loan Manchester United player is expected to make a comeback for Tuesday night's game.However, Sebastien Haller, who sustained a knock in the last match and was substituted early, might miss out this time. Additionally, Ramy Bensebaini is sidelined due to a knee issue. With Donyell Malen back from injury, he could slot into the starting lineup, while Julian Brandt is also vying for a spot in midfield after his appearance as a substitute in the first leg against Atletico.
Niclas Fullkrug has been prolific for BVB this season, and the 31-year-old is likely to lead the attacking line against Atletico on Tuesday night.
As for Atletico, Memphis Depay is unavailable due to a muscular problem, with Thomas Lemar and Marcos Paulo also sidelined. Mario Hermoso returned against Girona, but Saul Niguez's fitness remains uncertain after being substituted in the first half of the match.
Pablo Barrios will return to the squad after serving a suspension, and several key players including Jose Gimenez, Cesar Azpilicueta, Marcos Llorente, Axel Witsel, Lino, and Alvaro Morata are expected to feature after being rested in the previous league match.
Diego Simeone might opt for the same lineup that started the first leg against Dortmund, with Antoine Griezmann once again playing a pivotal role in the attacking third.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Sabitzer, Can, Brandt; Sancho, Fullkrug, Malen
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Witsel, Gimenez, Azpilicueta; Molina, Llorente, Koke, De Paul, Lino; Griezmann, Morata
EXPERT PREDICTION
Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Atletico Madrid
While Dortmund might be capable of staging a comeback on Tuesday, there's a certain resilience about Atletico at this crucial stage of the competition. We anticipate a closely contested match and predict Atletico to secure a draw, which would be enough for them to progress to the Champions League semi-finals once more.
