Los Blancos will meet a familiar opponent in Dortmund in the Champions League as they attempt to bring home the elusive La Decima.
Tentative Lineups
Defence
Real Madrid are a far cry from the defensive resolve that were the feature of Jose Mourinho’s teams. Blancos coach Carlo Ancelotti has rarely wavered from his preferred backline of Dani Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos and Marcelo. This defence has conceded 21 goals in both La Liga and the Champions League. However the Italian coach will have to call upon the services of Fabio Coentrao as Marcelo has been ruled out due to injury and will have to hold their own against a Dortmund attack sans Robert Lewandowski, who is suspended for this game. However the quartet of Marco Reus, Patrick Aubameyang, Kevin Grosskreutz and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are not meant to be taken lightly in any way.
Borussia Dortmund have had to deal with a string of injuries to their defensive line as centre half Neven Subotic and full back Marcel Schmelzer are ruled out due to injury. Greek defender Sokratis and Erik Durm have filled in for them respectively but they will have their hands full as they are up against one of Europe’s deadliest attacking trident in Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and hundred million-dollar baby Gareth Bale who collectively plundered 6 goals in their last visit to Germany against Schalke. The defence has conceded 41 goals in their 22 games in the Bundesliga and the Champions League which will leave Carlo Ancelotti’s side smiling.
Midfield
Carlo Ancelotti has realised that his side purrs when they play a 3-man midfield with Xabi Alonso flanked by Luka Modric and Angel di Maria who has a new lease of life under the Italian. With Modric being the creative force for the Spanish side and Alonso protecting the defence, di Maria has often been seen pushing forward in a wider role to support Ronaldo as seen in the Clasico against Barcelona. This trio has created a total of 26 attacking chances for Real Madrid and have plenty of pace and guile to play both a possession and counter-attacking based game.
Dortmund will miss the services of Ilkay Gundogan who has been ruled out with a back injury. Sebastian Kehl and former Real Madrid man Nuri Sahin are expected to line up for the Germans in their trademark double pivot roles who need stability in the middle of the park as there are rampaging Real Madrid elements all around them. The duo have created a total of 16 chances for the team but it will be their defensive capabilities that will be tested to the hilt in this game.
Attack
Real Madrid have been a more free-flowing side under Ancelotti with the ‘BBC’ trio of Benzema, Bale and Cristiano tearing opposition defences apart at will. 115 goals in La Liga and the Champions League combined is an indicator of the firepower that Ancelotti can call upon. With Benzema being flanked by the fleet-footed Bale and Ronaldo, they will be out to cause havoc amongst a Dortmund defence that has been frail this season.
If Real Madrid boast of a Fabulous Frontline, Dortmund have their very own version of the same as they have registered themselves on the scoresheet 94 times this season in the Bundesliga and Champions League. With Marco Reus delivering a delightful hattrick to lead his team to victory over the weekend against Stuttgart, he will be assisted by Grosskreutz and Mkhitaryan who will all combine to let Aubameyang work his magic. The Pole will rekindle the memories of that famous night in Germany last year where his four goals left Real Madrid reeling.
(stats sourced from WhoScored and Squawka)
