Tuchel warns against Qabala complacency

Borussia Dortmund must not be complacent against
Qabala in Thursday's Europa League game, coach
Thomas Tuchel warns.

Thomas Tuchel has warned Borussia Dortmund they must not
take the threat of Qabala lightly ahead of their Europa League
clash in Azerbaijan.

Dortmund visit Baku on Thursday sitting top of Group C having
taken four points from their opening two matches against
Krasnodar and PAOK.

Qabala, by contrast, are bottom with just one point to their
name – but Dortmund coach Tuchel believes Roman
Grigorchuk's side have enough quality to punish any
complacency from his players.

"We expect a diligent and well-organised team, which will try to
make the most of its role as an outsider," Tuchel said.

"We have respect for the opponent and the game. In football,
anything can happen... we know that Qabala are very hard to
beat."

Dortmund will be without Henrikh Mkhitaryan at the Bakcell
Arena, as the Armenia playmaker has not travelled due to
political tensions between his homeland and Azerbaijan.

Tuchel added: "I think it's a sporting and human pity that Miki is
not present."

The former Mainz boss also revealed that full-back Marcel
Schmelzer is fit and ready to start the game after recovering
from a thigh problem.