Clean sheet pleases Klopp in Malaga

Borussia Dortmund manager Juergen Klopp says their Champions League quarter-final with Malaga is evenly poised.

Dortmund had to settle for a goalless draw against Malaga in the first leg at La Rosaleda on Wednesday.

The German side missed a host of chances to take the lead, with Mario Gotze twice thwarted by home goalkeeper Willy Caballero.

“We have played one half of the quarter-final. Both teams have got more knowledge about each other now,” Klopp said.

“For us it was an away game with a fantastic atmosphere. We built a base, nothing more and nothing less.

“Whoever wants to come through to the late stages of this competition won’t have an easy job.

“So we did well today against an opposition that was well organised and nonetheless allowed us a few good scoring opportunities.”

Klopp, though, was just happy his side kept a clean sheet going into the return leg on April 9 in Dortmund.

“Whoever knows us to a certain extent knows as well that sometimes without any reason we get under pressure and are prone to concede a goal,” he said.

“This we did not today. So the 0-0 I am happy about. And the other one I am not unhappy with because that’s football.”

Meanwhile, Malaga head coach Manuel Pellegrini was pleased with his side’s performance against the reigning Bundesliga champions.

“It was a very good game from both teams, who each tried to get into the opposition box,” Pellegrini told UEFA.com.

“The crowd were happy. Dortmund are an excellent side. If we look at their campaign in this UEFA Champions League season, they scored four goals at Ajax, also scored in Madrid and again away to Manchester City.

“It was an open game and the tie is absolutely open. Let’s start well in Dortmund.”