Champions League Betting: Lackluster Monaco Shouldn’t Threaten Dortmund

Betting Odds: Borussia Dortmund vs. Monaco

• Borussia Dortmund moneyline: -282
• Monaco moneyline: +789
• Draw: +454
• Over/Under: 3 (Over -120/Under +100)
• Kickoff: Wednesday, 3 p.m. ET
• Channel: Bleacher Report Live

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With Borussia Dortmund two down at halftime at Bayer Leverkusen last weekend, it looked for all that Lucien Favre's side would spurn their chance to leapfrog Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga table.

It took some magic from the bench to turn things around, with two assists from teenage sensation Jadon Sancho and two goals from super sub Paco Alcacer eventually helping Borussia Dortmund to a 4-2 victory on the road.

That had been their problem after all, matching their record away from home to their mark at the Westfalenstadion, where they return this Wednesday to host a Monaco side that is in disarray.

This will be an emotional occasion for some of the BVB players on show too, after their bus was attacked with roadside bombs en route to their home fixture against the Ligue 1 side in the Champions League quarterfinals in April of last year.

They hardly need extra incentive to put on a performance, but the German league leaders will certainly look to exploit an unquestionable crisis of confidence in their visitors.

Leonardo Jardim's travelling Monaco side find themselves in the bottom three of France's top flight after eight matches, and are without a win in all competitions since their season opener at Nantes.  The departures during the summer gone by appear to have been a step too far for a young side lacking experience and tenacity.

The sale of Fabinho to Liverpool has weakened The Red and Whites in the middle of the park, and the goals have dried up of late, too. Add in the fact that Monaco have kept just one clean sheet in all competitions this season and there's a lot to be worried about.

To make matters worse, Dortmund's attack is in full flow with 11 goals in their last two games — two more than Monaco have managed in all competitions this season — and the depth of Favre's squad is highlighted best by the stats of his two aforementioned game changers at the weekend.

Summer signing Alcacer is being eased into action since arriving from Barcelona, but a match-winning brace on Saturday made it three goals in just 50 minutes of league action.

Meanwhile, Sancho became the first player to reach five assists in Europe's top five leagues last time out despite not yet starting a single game. Pretty good for an 18-year-old.

Factor in the collective form of young winger Jacob Bruun Larsen and captain Marco Reus, who looks fully fit after a hellish spell out through injury, and Monaco could find themselves in hot water.

The bookies don't give Monaco much of a prayer in terms of causing a shock, so the outright odds don't offer a great deal of value on the hosts. A look to the handicap lines is a better bet as BVB have a good chance of winning this by at least two goals.

Bet: Borussia Dortmund -1.5 Goals (-110)