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02.04.2014 » Real Madrid 3-0 Borussia Dortmund. Half revenge served at home!
After last year's Champions League elimination at the hands of this very same Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid certainly knew how vital it was to pull off a clean sheet win on this first leg tie played in Spain. That's precisely what they've done tonight and it all started with a very early goal from Gareth Bale, when we still didn't even have had 3 minutes played in the game. Isco got to set the score in 2-0 still before the break, and later in the second half, the Merengues reached the 3-goal lead after Cristiano Ronaldo's 14th goal in the competition. The 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or winner has now tied Lionel Messi's all-time record of 14 goals in a UEFA Champions League season.
The second leg will take Real Madrid to Germany next week, but given the big advantage that will be carried to Dortmund, only a disaster can send Carlo Ancelotti's men out of Europe in this quarter-finals round. For now, everyone's attention is set on Cristiano Ronaldo's physical condition, as he left the game in pain and with still 10 minutes left to be played, limping a bit due to limitations on his right knee. Apparently, and judging by Ancelotti and Ronaldo's own words after the game, the former Manchester United player only came out as a precaution and not because he was seriously injured. Nevertheless and after we've seen in tonight's game, Real Madrid might still be on a delicate situation in La Liga, but they sure look in great form in this year's Champions League.
Cristiano Ronaldo game photos in Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid 3-0 Borussia Dortmund goals and highlights video:
All Cristiano Ronaldo actions vs Borussia Dortmund:
The day didn't start in the best possible way for Real Madrid. The Argentina international midfielder, Angel Di María, was forced to leave the club's training ground due to a gastroenteritis problem, according to Real Madrid sources. That definitely raised a problem in Ancelotti's mind, who had to figure out a replacement for the former Benfica winger, by picking either Asier Illarramendi or Isco to take his spot. Unlike what the former Chelsea and PSG manager has done in previous similar circumstances this season, this time he decided to grant a chance to Isco and let's just say that the Spaniard didn't let him down...
The match practically started with Real Madrid grabbing the lead, after a beautiful combination play between Karim Benzema, Carvajal and Gareth Bale. The Frenchman controlled a ball close to the right sideline as he managed to draw most of the attention on that side towards himself, just before sending a low pass into the middle, where Madrid's right-back Daniel Carvajal, had just arrived in order to support the attack. Then and already inside Borussia Dortmund's box, the Spanish youngster quickly released the ball to his left, where Gareth Bale picked it up to go straight into Weidenfeller's direction. The Welshman showed his great footwork on a really tight space and managed to touch the ball past the German's goalkeeper on a big stretch, sending Real Madrid to a much-wanted early lead.
The 2-0 arrived in the 27th minute and this time it would be Isco finding the back of the net. The former Malaga midfielder took his chance to shoot without hesitation much, right after picking up a deflection coming from a Xabi Alonso's interception, who had just been pressing high up the pitch. With plenty of legs in front of him but with the ball on the ground and perfectly controlled, Isco struck it low and aiming at one of the posts, leaving almost no chance at all for Weidenfeller to reach out to it. Dortmund had just fallen 2 goals behind on the scoreboard and Jurgen Klopp's men needed to wake up fast and start reacting if they still intended to keep their hopes alive for the return leg...
The score at half-time was curiously the exact and final result from last year, when Real Madrid hosted Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semi-finals second leg. Back then, the Merengues needed a third goal desperately, but for one reason or another, they failed to score it. The 4-1 defeat in Germany turned out to be a way bigger hill to climb than what they had predicted and Real Madrid failed to capitalize on having had the chance (or unfortune), of playing the return leg at home. This year that first leg's home advantage factor has switched and it may end up being decisive once again, this time in Real Madrid's favor...
Real Madrid's third and final goal of last night was born in another possession lost by Borussia Dortmund, which allowed Luka Modric to intercept a pass deep in the visitors' half and already on a very dangerous zone of the pitch. The Croatia international immediately looked up for Cristiano Ronaldo and assisted him for a 1-on-1 situation against Dortmund's goalkeeper, which he rarely misses. The 29-year old forward didn't panic and with a quick 2-touch skill, he brilliantly got around Weidenfeller and slided the ball into the back of the net. That was Ronaldo's 14th goal in this Champions League campaign, after having played in only 8 games thus far. With tonight's mark, CR7 also ties Messi's 14-goal record, which was set two years ago, in the 2011-12 season. Real Madrid wrapped up the 3-0 win and will now visit Borussia Dortmund next week as they'll attempt to seal the deal for good in order to earn their ticket for the Champions League semi-finals.
Cristiano Ronaldo's knee injury shouldn't keep him off the pitches for too long, but for now, he's still in doubt for this weekend's Spanish league game at the Anoeta stadium, against Real Sociedad.
Real Madrid line-up vs Borussia Dortmund:
Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas
Defenders: Fábio Coentrão, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Carvajal
Midfielders: Xabi Alonso, Modric, Isco
Attackers: Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema.
| Match stats provided by www.ronaldo7.net
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|---|---|---|
Real Madrid
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vs
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Borussia Dortmund
|
3 |
Goals |
0 |
20 |
Shots |
12 |
12 |
Shots on goal |
2 |
6 |
Corner kicks |
7 |
7 |
Fouls commited |
8 |
0 |
Yellow cards |
3 |
0 |
Red cards |
0 |
47% |
Ball possession |
53% |
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Real Madrid will be against Real Sociedad for La Liga, on April 5, 2014. You can watch Juventus live stream, Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid, Barcelona vs Betis, Lyon vs Juventus, and FC Porto vs Sevilla, all matches provided from our soccer streams pages.
Real Madrid next game:
Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad kick-off time (05-04-2014):
Jakarta (Indonesia) | GMT+7: 02:00
Spain (Madrid) | GMT+1: 20:00
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | GMT+0: 19:00
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | GMT-2: 12:00
New York (United States) | GMT-5: 14:00
Los Angeles (United States) | GMT-8: 11:00
Beijing (China) | GMT+8: 03:00
Sources: ronaldo7.net / realmadrid.com / goal.com / sportige.com
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