Malaga, Dortmund finish goalless

Borussia Dortmund wasted a host of chances to take a healthy advantage into the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Malaga tonight. Mario Gotze was the main culprit, spurning three golden openings, as the visitors failed to find a way past the impressive Willy Caballero at La Rosaleda.

The away draw still leaves Jurgen Klopp's side in a strong position ahead of the home leg, but the boss will know the tie could have been all but wrapped up already - particularly with the risk of conceding away goals back in Dortmund. Now Malaga, who, for all their opponents' dominance, still caused Dortmund the odd nervy moment, will travel to the Westfalenstadion still in with a shout of the last four.

Malaga had the first chance when Javier Saviola ran onto a clipped pass down the right of the area, got to the byline and cut inside, only to opt to go for the near post rather than the far and dragged his shot wide.

Dortmund dominant but disappointing
But it did not take long for Dortmund's attacking triumvirate of Robert Lewandowski, Gotze and Marco Reus to start exerting their influence as Dortmund started to open their hosts up almost at will. Gotze ran clear on to a Lewandowski header as the Malaga backline appealed in vain for offside, but his shot lacked power and Caballero dived to make a one-handed save.

The German international then got in one-on-one down the right of the area, but Caballero was again equal to his side-foot shot. Reus then brought another save out of the keeper after neat link-up play and a low shot from the edge of the area. The young trio were causing Malaga all sorts of problems, with only the killer finish lacking.

The hosts showed they could still be a threat when Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller had to be quick off his line to get to the ball ahead of Saviola. Their defence, though, continued to live dangerously and Weligton was booked for pulling back Lewandowski right on the edge of the area, Reus curling the resulting free-kick wide.

But Malaga ended the half in the ascendancy. Weidenfeller, under no pressure, spilled a Joaquin cross and Felipe Santana go to scramble the ball away to spare his team-mate's blushes. But the keeper redeemed himself with a fine save to keep out a Weligton header from a Joaquin corner.

Lewandowski fluffed another golden Dortmund chance minutes after the break, skewing his shot horribly wide when Gotze's cut-back found him in plenty of space in front of goal. Gotze then fired wide of the far post after racing on to a measured pass down the right as another opportunity came and went for the Germans.

At the other end, Isco drilled effort was parried well by Weidenfeller, but it was Dortmund who left the pitch at full-time with a feeling of what might have been.