When assessing the final eight teams remaining in the UEFA Champions League, America’s adopted favorite team Borussia Dortmund couldn’t have asked for a much better quarterfinal draw. They’ve been drawn against Ligue 1 side AS Monaco in the quarterfinals that begin on April 11/12.
We're in for a treat! The #UCLdraw... pic.twitter.com/l96zXG0vDE
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 17, 2017
Without any analytical perspective, a completely knee-jerk reaction would be that the fighting Christian Pulisic’s got an extremely favorable draw considering the teams left in the tournament. I mean, look at those match-ups. On paper, arguably the only other club that Dortmund would’ve wanted to see come out of the lottery machine is Leicester City.
While, yes, Monaco did just eliminate Manchester City, let’s be honest. City have never been good in European competitions. Dortmund have the experience and the pedigree in such tournaments. If they play their best soccer they should be able to get to the final four. It’s surely not a guarantee, but they have to be happy considering the alternatives could’ve been opponents like Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, or Juventus.
Pulisic has sort of been a Champions League specialist for Dortmund this season, playing in all of the club’s eight matches (6 starts, 2 subs), scoring a goal and adding two assists. Could he continue that fine form and help lead his club to the semifinals of the world’s most prestigious club competition? What a feat it would be for the young American.