Champions League preview: Juve wary of Barca attack

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri promised to throw caution to the wind against Barcelona in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final, saying it was impossible to keep a clean sheet against the Spanish side's attack.

Instead, Allegri said on Monday, he would throw on all his best attacking players in an attempt to outscore his opponents in the first leg at the Juventus stadium.

"It's impossible to think about playing two 0-0 draws and winning on penalties," Allegri told reporters.

"All the four or five attacking players will play, I don't see any reason why we should have to do without them.

"It's a great challenge and we have to play with the confidence that we can beat Barcelona."

Allegri did not name his team but his comments suggest that Croatia forward Mario Mandzukic and Colombia winger Juan Cuadrado will both play in addition to the attacking pair of Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala.

"It's always good not to concede a goal when you play the first leg at home but that is going to be difficult this time and it is likely they will score," admitted Allegri, even though his side have conceded only two goals in the competition.

"Barcelona have those three in attack but they also leave space behind," he said referring to Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. "You have to play on their weaknesses.

"We've changed a lot in recent years, we've grown in self-confidence and awareness in the Champions League.

"Juventus should be used to playing games like this. Juventus have important qualities and we need to show them on the pitch, while knowing the difficulties we'll face against a great team."

Dortmund and Monaco prepare for quarter-final goal-fest

Despite their attacking qualities, Borussia Dortmund and Monaco face similar concerns as they prepare for Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg, with both teams having their defensive frailties brutally exposed in recent weeks.

No side had ever advanced through a knockout tie conceding six goals but swashbuckling Monaco threw caution to the wind to oust Manchester City, netting three away goals in a 5-3 defeat in the first leg before running out 3-1 winners at home to advance on away goals.

Youngster Kylian Mbappe has been a revelation, while the 31-year-old Radamel Falcao is enjoying a new lease of life after appearing to put his fitness problems behind him.

Dortmund, with seven-goal frontman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leading the way, broke the record for goals scored in the competition's group stage when they netted 21 to finish in top spot above Real Madrid, after a group-stage campaign that included an 8-4 demolition of Legia Warsaw.

Against Benfica in the round of 16, they also demonstrated their offensive class to come back from a 1-0 first-leg defeat and win 4-0 at home.

Like Monaco, Dortmund have enjoyed the emergence of a talented sensation, with 19-year-old French international Ousmane Dembele contributing five assists in his maiden European campaign.

While there are no doubts about either side's attacking quality ahead of their first competitive meeting, both have recently been brutally exposed defensively against high-quality opposition.