Champions League: ‘Improved’ Real Madrid eyeing Dortmund scalp
Mourinho’s men take on German underdogs in semi-final first leg tonight
Real Madrid have appeared 12 times in the Champions League final, securing victory in nine of those matches. PHOTO: AFP
DORTMUND:
Argentina forward Angel Di Maria has insisted Real Madrid have learnt from their group stage defeat at Borussia Dortmund and will not make the same mistake twice in tonight’s Champions League semi-final, first-leg.
Real will have to cope also with what promises to be a passionate atmosphere in the ground which saw Dortmund receive 500,000 requests for tickets for a ground whose capacity is nearly 66,000.
Such was the demand for tickets that police had to intervene to restore order when brawls broke out as fans tried to queue barge as the remaining semi-final tickets went on sale yesterday.
They were sold out within an hour.
Di Maria says that Real have progressed as a side since their defeat in the group stage.
“We weren’t at our best in the two group matches, but that’s changed now,” said the 25-year-old. “Our defence is more compact and we’ve got more confidence.
“Dortmund are very similar to us, they’re very good on the counter attack. We’ve experienced that already. Dortmund are in good form and we need to be at 100 percent.”
For coach Juergen Klopp’s young team, which won consecutive Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012, it is a career highlight, with the 1997 Champions League winners back in the last four for the first time in 15 years.
“This is the biggest game so far that my boys will have to play,” said Klopp. “We are ready to give it everything we have against the biggest club in the world because if you reach the semi-final then you obviously want to get into that final.”
The last time they reached this stage – in 1998 – it was Real who eliminated them en route to the title.
The nine-time European champions are no strangers to Dortmund this season either with the Germans beating them in Dortmund and Real escaping with a last-gasp 2-2 draw in Madrid in the group stage.
Poland striker Robert Lewandowski is reported to be fit, despite bruising his leg in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Mainz 05, when he scored for the 12th consecutive league match.
But both defensive midfielders Sven Bender, inflamed pelvis, and captain Sebastian Kehl, foot ligament, face a race against time.
Felipe Santana, who scored the dramatic winning goal in the win over Malaga, will have to be content with a place on the bench with Germany’s Mats Hummels back to partner Neven Subotic at centre-back after an ankle injury.
“Realistically, you have to make Real slight favourites when you look at it from a neutrals point of view,” said Hummels.
Jose Mourinho has done his homework by attending Greuther Fuerth’s 6-1 drubbing at home to Dortmund ten days ago.
While Dortmund are eyeing a second European Cup final, 16 years after beating Juventus to win the 1997 trophy, Madrid are aiming for their 13th final appearance.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 24th, 2013.
Argentina forward Angel Di Maria has insisted Real Madrid have learnt from their group stage defeat at Borussia Dortmund and will not make the same mistake twice in tonight’s Champions League semi-final, first-leg.
Real will have to cope also with what promises to be a passionate atmosphere in the ground which saw Dortmund receive 500,000 requests for tickets for a ground whose capacity is nearly 66,000.
Such was the demand for tickets that police had to intervene to restore order when brawls broke out as fans tried to queue barge as the remaining semi-final tickets went on sale yesterday.
They were sold out within an hour.
Di Maria says that Real have progressed as a side since their defeat in the group stage.
“We weren’t at our best in the two group matches, but that’s changed now,” said the 25-year-old. “Our defence is more compact and we’ve got more confidence.
“Dortmund are very similar to us, they’re very good on the counter attack. We’ve experienced that already. Dortmund are in good form and we need to be at 100 percent.”
For coach Juergen Klopp’s young team, which won consecutive Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012, it is a career highlight, with the 1997 Champions League winners back in the last four for the first time in 15 years.
“This is the biggest game so far that my boys will have to play,” said Klopp. “We are ready to give it everything we have against the biggest club in the world because if you reach the semi-final then you obviously want to get into that final.”
The last time they reached this stage – in 1998 – it was Real who eliminated them en route to the title.
The nine-time European champions are no strangers to Dortmund this season either with the Germans beating them in Dortmund and Real escaping with a last-gasp 2-2 draw in Madrid in the group stage.
Poland striker Robert Lewandowski is reported to be fit, despite bruising his leg in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Mainz 05, when he scored for the 12th consecutive league match.
But both defensive midfielders Sven Bender, inflamed pelvis, and captain Sebastian Kehl, foot ligament, face a race against time.
Felipe Santana, who scored the dramatic winning goal in the win over Malaga, will have to be content with a place on the bench with Germany’s Mats Hummels back to partner Neven Subotic at centre-back after an ankle injury.
“Realistically, you have to make Real slight favourites when you look at it from a neutrals point of view,” said Hummels.
Jose Mourinho has done his homework by attending Greuther Fuerth’s 6-1 drubbing at home to Dortmund ten days ago.
While Dortmund are eyeing a second European Cup final, 16 years after beating Juventus to win the 1997 trophy, Madrid are aiming for their 13th final appearance.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 24th, 2013.