MADRID? JUVE? ATLETI? MONACO AREN'T AFRAID.

Spot the odd one out: Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid,
Juventus and Monaco.
Over the course of the last five years, three of the
aforementioned quartet have become familiar with the
closing stages of the Champions League. The
Monegasques, meanwhile, have flirted with relegation to
France’s third tier since they appeared in the final of the
2004 edition. Now, though, Leonardo Jardim’s side look
as strong as anyone in Europe.Borussia Dortmund were the latest victims to the Ligue
1 leaders, going down 3-1 on the night and 6-3 on
aggregate after a thrilling second leg at Stade Louis II –
a match laced with the kind of scintillating attacking
football associated with both sides.
Prior to the match, Jardim said: "Our team is used to
playing with a DNA which will not change. We want to
maintain that momentum."
Stay faithful to their attacking principles they did and
they effectively moved to kill the tie off within
minutes. Eighteen-year-old prodigy Kylian Mbappe
became the first player ever to score in his first four
Champions League knockout matches – he now has
five goals in four – while a firm header from Radamel
Falcao put the tie beyond the visiting side, who had lost
the first leg 3-2 in Germany.
Dortmund did rally to an extent after the break,
exploiting the naivety of the young home side, but
ultimately they did not have quite enough to complete a
memorable comeback. They looked susceptible on the
break and substitute Valere Germain gave the home side
insurance with 10 minutes left.
And so it is the French side who find themselves among
the exalted company of the Champions League semi-
finalists.
Their place among such established giants is fully
merited and, having reached this stage of the
competition, they will feel that they have a chance of
going all the way.
Packing more scoring potential than perhaps any side in
Europe right now – as much due to their adventurous
approach as the talent they possess – they have a
puncher’s chance against anyone.
Mbappe has caught the headlines owing to his
outrageous start to life at this headiest of heights, but he
has received ample support. Falcao is a player reborn
after two seasons in the doldrums, while a crop of
talented young players is headed by Thomas Lemar,
who, on Wednesday, became the first man since Andres
Iniesta in 2011 to provide assists in four successive
knockout matches.
It would also be unfair not to single out Bernardo Silva
for praise, as his contribution to Monaco offensively this
season has been formidable.
When Monaco last reached the quarter-finals of the
competition, knocking Arsenal out en route, they were
correctly considered to be a dour, defensive side.
While they still possess a rugged heart to their side, led
by Tiemoue Bakayoko in the midfield and complemented
by Kamil Glik and Jemerson in the centre of the defence,
it is the full-backs who are the real motifs of the side.
Benjamin Mendy’s attacking instincts were central to
both of his side’s goals on Wednesday and there is
probably no finer crosser of the ball from open play in
world football currently. His partner in crime on the
right, Djibril Sidibe, was absent from both matches
against BVB due to a rib injury, but it mattered little.
While these players can be such a source of strength,
their gung-ho approach can also be exploited by
opponents, yet Monaco’s mindset is so affixed on
attacking, they are rarely asked to relent.
Dortmund did force the French side onto the back foot
for long periods. The visitors enjoyed over 60 per cent of
the ball, yet even against such an accomplished
attacking side they rarely looked likely to concede and
created plenty of scoring chances of their own.
None of the sides left in the competition should hold any
great fears for this enthralling Monaco side. They may
not have the support, history or star names of their
compatriots in the final four, but they have already
proven themselves an attacking force to be reckoned
with.