HomeSportsFootballMadrid, Dortmund battle for UCL glory as old wounds resurface

Madrid, Dortmund battle for UCL glory as old wounds resurface

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In a rematch of the 2023-24 Champions League remaining, reigning champions Real Madrid face Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday on the Bernabeu.

It has been almost 5 months since Carlo Ancelotti’s squad shattered BVB’s goals, clinching their fifteenth European title whereas leaving the German aspect to rue their missed alternatives at Wembley.

Los Blancos have lengthy held the important thing to Champions League success, triumphing on the continental stage for the fifteenth time final season.

In that remaining, Borussia Dortmund have been unable to capitalize on their dominance, succumbing to 2 decisive second-half strikes.

However, Don Carlo’s males have proven some vulnerability this season.

On matchday two of the 2024-25 marketing campaign, they suffered their first defeat in Europe’s premier competitors since May 2023, with a 1-0 loss to Lille, because of a purpose from Jonathan David.

While they managed a strong 3-1 victory over Stuttgart, a rival from Dortmund’s Bundesliga, their three-point tally locations them a disappointing seventeenth within the 36-team desk, not even sufficient for a seeded knockout place at this early stage.

In the wake of their shocking defeat to Lille, Ancelotti’s squad has responded admirably, securing victories over Villarreal and Celta Vigo in La Liga across the worldwide break.

Their latest win in opposition to Celta Vigo retains them three factors behind league leaders Barcelona who trashed Sevilla 5-1 on Sunday, setting the stage for an thrilling El Clasico conflict this coming weekend.

While Los Blancos’ spectacular 17-month unbeaten streak within the Champions League has come to an finish, they haven’t misplaced a top-level European match at residence since April 2022.

However, they’ve struggled defensively, failing to maintain a clear sheet of their final 5 continental outings on the Bernabeu.

Had Dortmund proven the identical ruthless effectivity in opposition to Real Madrid as they did in opposition to Celtic earlier this month, they may be arriving within the Spanish capital this week adorned with Champions League medals.

Nuri Şahin’s aspect was unstoppable in opposition to Brendan Rodgers’s group, demonstrating their attacking prowess.

After Daizen Maeda equalized for Celtic following an early strike from Emre Can, Dortmund surged forward.

Karim Adeyemi, linked with a transfer to Liverpool, netted a surprising hat trick, whereas Serhou Guirassy added two targets, and Felix Nmecha additionally discovered the web, showcasing the firepower of final season’s decided runners-up.

With one other dominant efficiency, the place they scored three unanswered targets in opposition to Club Brugge on matchday one, Şahin’s squad at present sits atop the 36-team desk, bolstered by a superior purpose distinction over the opposite six groups which have additionally received each of their opening matches.

Dortmund’s spectacular performances in Europe stand in stark distinction to their inconsistent home outcomes.

This previous weekend, they narrowly secured a tense 2-1 victory over St. Pauli, however they’ve suffered back-to-back defeats on the highway within the Bundesliga, falling 5-1 to Stuttgart and 2-1 to Union Berlin.

As they put together for his or her Champions League conflict, Dortmund dangers setting an undesirable file on the Bernabeu.

They have made seven visits to this iconic stadium with out securing a victory, recording 5 losses and two attracts.

No group has ever gone winless in its first eight Champions League encounters at a single away venue.

Kylian Mbappe, who’s at present underneath investigation in Sweden for allegations he strongly denies, has totally recovered from his latest muscular harm.

As Real Madrid gear up for Tuesday’s match, they may solely be with out three confirmed absentees: Dani Carvajal (knee), David Alaba (knee) and Brahim Diaz (abductor).

Following Carvajal’s season-ending surgical procedure, hypothesis has intensified round Real probably looking for a January switch for Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold.

In the meantime, Lucas Vazquez will proceed to fill in at proper again.

A tactical shift within the beginning XI might see Ferland Mendy take over for Fran García on the other aspect of the protection, whereas Rodrygo goals to reclaim his spot, probably on the expense of Eduardo Camavinga.

While Karim Adeyemi’s beautiful hat trick in opposition to Celtic showcased his brilliance, it got here at a steep worth.

The German winger sustained a critical hamstring harm early within the second half and isn’t anticipated to return till late November.

He just isn’t alone in Dortmund’s therapy room; Julien Duranville (thigh), Giovanni Reyna (groin) and Yan Couto (muscle) are additionally sidelined.

Additionally, Pascal Gross and Niklas Süle are uncertain for the upcoming match, with Gross having been substituted at halftime through the victory over St. Pauli.

In Gross’ absence, both Felix Nmecha or the promising Jamie Bynoe-Gittens is more likely to step in.

Should Bynoe-Gittens play and rating, he would make historical past because the youngest English participant to seek out the web in opposition to Real Madrid within the UEFA Champions League, surpassing the file set by 20-year-old Alan Smith of Leeds United in 2001.

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