Real Madrid will be heading into the final game of the UEFA Champions League group stage where they will be aiming for a win to finish top of the group. They have had a hard time with Dortmund pushing them up the wall and Legia Warszawa almost pulling off a shocker.
They will be in a buoyant mood though having rescued a point from the season’s first El Clasico last weekend when it seemed unlikely. Their in-house last minute saviour once again turned up and headed home the equaliser to send the travelling crowd into frenzied celebrations.
Borussia Dortmund have been having a topsy-turvy season so far. They have been impressive in the Champions League but have failed to show the same level of consistency in the Bundesliga. Currently in the 6th position, they would want to be certainly a lot higher than this. They are within touching distance of the 3rd placed side and made a statement beating Borussia Monchengladbach 4-1 in the weekend.
TRIVIA
Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are facing each other for the eighth time in the last five Champions League seasons.
Borussia Dortmund have won none of their five away games against Real Madrid (D1 L4). The German side have also conceded at least two goals in each of those five trips to the Santiago Bernabeu.
At the Bernabeu, Real Madrid have won 20 of their last 21 Champions League group games (D1), including the last 12. Borussia Dortmund were the last team to stop them from winning, in November 2012 (2-2).
In Real’s case, this is the 20th consecutive season in which they have made it to the Champions League knockout stages, a record in the competition.
Only two of Dortmund’s last 27 Champions League games have ended in a draw (W16 L9).
TEAM NEWS
REAL MADRID
The good news for Zinedine Zidane is that influential midfielder Casemiro is back on the team after several weeks of injury problem. Toni Kroos is also back in training along with Casemiro who was in the team in the weekend. Alvaro Morata is a slight doubt but might feature.
Bale is the only long-term absentee for the Los Blancos.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Sven Bender will be unavailable for selection due to an ankle injury. Neven Subotic and Erik Durm are also declared unfit to play the match due to their ribs and knee injuries, respectively.
Mario Gotze is also ruled out of the match because of his knee injury.
PREDICTED LINE-UPS
REAL MADRID (4-3-3)
Navas – Marcelo, Pepe, Ramos, Carvajal – Modric, Casemiro, Kroos – Vasquez, Ronaldo, Benzema
BORUSSIA DORTMUND (3-4-3)
Weidenfeller – Ginter, Bartra, Papastathoupoulos – Castro, Sahin, Kagawa, Piszczek – Aubameyang, Reus, Dembele
BETTING ODDS
