Borussia Dortmund carry a fit and firing Marco Reus; an in form Michy Batshuayi; and a 3-2 advantage into their UEFA Europa League last 32 second leg clash with Atalanta at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia on Thursday evening (kick-off: 21:05 CET/20:05GMT).
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BVB have been irrepressible since Peter Stöger succeeded Peter Bosz as coach in December, winning six and drawing three of their 10 competitive games. Batshuayi is fast proving a more than ample replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with the Belgian scoring twice last Thursday to give BVB the advantage over Atalanta in this tie. Three days later Reus scored the only goal in the Battle of the Borussias, and there is a growing sense of optimism in North Rhine-Westphalia. Julian Weigl is suspended for Die Schwarzgelben, while Andrey Yarmolenko, Maximilian Philipp and Raphael Guerreiro are among their longer-term injury absentees. Club captain Marcel Schmelzer is nearing full fitness, but the recent form of Jeremy Toljan at left-back could delay his return regardless. Expect to see something approaching a full-strength BVB in Lombardy, though.
Dortmund will have to keep a close eye on Josip Ilicic. The Slovenia striker hit both of the Italians’ goals in the first leg and boasts 11 goals and eight assists in all competitions this season. A heavily rotated Atalanta were held to a 1-1 by 10-man Fiorentina on Sunday. Currently 11th in Serie A, Gian Piero Gasperini is likely to name a strong starting XI against Dortmund with European football proving a happier hunting ground for them this term.
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Probable line-ups
Atalanta: Berisha – Toloi, Caldara, Masiello – Hateboer, de Roon, Spinazzola, Freuler – Ilicic – Petagna, Gomez (c)
Absentees: Rizzo (knee)
Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini
Dortmund: Bürki – Piszczek, Sokratis, Toprak, Toljan – Castro, Götze – Pulisic, Reus (c), Schürrle - Batshuayi
Absentees: Akanji (ineligible), Schmelzer (calf), Durm (ankle), Guerreiro (match fitness), Sancho and Kagawa (both ankle), Philipp (knee), Yarmolenko (foot)
Coach: Peter Stöger
Match stats Live updates
Source: bundesliga.com