Dortmund are favourites against us, says Monaco’s Jardim

Borussia Dortmund’s strength in depth and extra European experience means they have the edge over Monaco in their Champions League quarter-final, believes Leonardo Jardim.

The Ligue 1 leaders travel to Signal Iduna Park for the first leg and striker Radamel Falcao is likely to be available to partner teenager Kylian Mbappe in attack after recovering from hip injury.

Monaco have conceded more goals than any other side left in the competition and Jardim is wary of the threat posed by the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ousmane Dembele.

“Dortmund’s advantage is their greater international experience and deeper squad,” Jardim told reporters on Monday. “We will have to be wary of their quality when defending. There has to be a balance.

“It is not easy trying to play with full intensity every three days. I don’t know if a team has ever gone from the third qualifying round to the quarter-finals. We have had the most games of any team so far. Little by little the team develops in maturity. Young people grow up.

“The return of Falcao is important to bring quality and experience. I’m counting on Mbappe. He understood that the end of match against Angers [in which he was an unused substitute] was not for him.”