Champions League Preview: Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
"We could have sold out this game three times over," trumpeted Borussia Dortmund press officer Josef Schneck ahead of the hotly anticipated visit of Real Madrid for a match that promises to go a long way in deciding which of the two teams will qualify from Group C alongside high-flying AC Milan.
"We could have sold out this game three times over," trumpeted Borussia Dortmund press officer Josef Schneck ahead of the hotly anticipated visit of Real Madrid for a match that promises to go a long way in deciding which of the two teams will qualify from Group C alongside high-flying AC Milan.
52'000 lucky fans will cram into the Westfalen on Tuesday, the overwhelming majority of which will be praying that the German Champions will be able to exact revenge for the 2-1 defeat they suffered in the Spanish capital less than a week ago. The atmosphere, therefore, is going to be almost unbearably tense but the coolest man in the stadium is bound to be BVB coach Matthias Sammer.
"For the club this is probably the game of the year but for me the next game is always the game of the year," he said before confidently proclaiming that his side have the ability to better any performance that the European champions can muster.
"It is very rare that we don't manage to score in front of our own fans so Real had best prepare for one hell of a ride," he boomed. "And if we have to, we are going to score two, and if that's still not enough, we will score three."
The Yellow-and-Blacks managed to score two at Schalke on the weekend but that only proved enough to draw their bitter Ruhr rivals, whom they needed to beat in order to have even an outside chance of overhauling runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.
Not only are the Borussen a full ten points off the lead as a result of their inability to beat the Royal Blues, but there was a storm within the setback as Jens Lehmann incurred a second yellow card for lashing out at his Brazilian teammate Marcio Amoroso, who he felt was responsible for Schalke's equalizer. Sammer insists, however, that the inter-squad polemics are a thing of the past.
"After the Schalke game it was important to settle the affair between Lehmann and Amoroso, which we managed to do without causing bigger problems," the fire-haired coach assured the Dortmund faithful.
Real enter this match on the heels of what coach Vicente Del Bosque described as one of his side's worst displays of the season against Valladolid. Having said that the Merengues did pick up the three points (thanks to Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo and Javier Portillo) that took them to the top of the league for 24 hours.
Ahead of this match, Argentine midfielder Santi Solari has reminded the team to defend better, as in each of their last five matches, they have coincided the first goal. "We must improve our concentration in the opening minutes of the game," he said. "Our aim must be to start games by not conceding an early goal. We have shown we can get back and win games but it would be much better to make a good start."
The Merengues were more impressive in last week's match against the German champions. They deserved their victory, even if they missed several chances, and didn't always look secure at the back. Ewerthon left Roberto Carlos to eat his dust on a couple of occasions. It's not often you see the left-back beaten for pace.
FORM GUIDE
Dortmund: Last Six Matches: LWLWLD
Inconsistency has been Borussia's Achilles heel this season, as try as they might Sammer's side simply can't manage to string a good run of results together. Their erratic form from February is indicative of the bigger picture, as Dortmund began the month with an encouraging win against Leverkusen, then lost to Stuttgart, then won against Bochum, then lost away to Real and then tied Schalke. An emotional rollercoaster for the teams ultra-devoted fans for sure.
Madrid: Last Six Matches: LDWLWW
Real haven't exactly been a model of consistency themselves. The two recent wins against Valladolid and Dortmund have not been achieved in style, while prior to those matches, Del Bosque's men were deservedly beaten at Osasuna.
LATEST TEAM NEWS
Dortmund: Sammer is expected to make one key change to the side that lost in Madrid last week as Amoroso will likely be sacrificed in favour of some extra steel in the midfield in the form of Kehl. Otto Addo and Juan Ramon Fernandez, in the meanwhile, are still out with long term injuries.
Madrid: Figo returns for this match that Real can't afford to lose if they want to carry on with the situation in their own hands. The Portuguese international was suspended for the Valladolid game. Zidane and Flavio were also absent from that match, but both return. Ronaldo, who scored a super goal at the weekend, will continue up-front.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Dortmund (4-3-1-2): Lehmann, Evanilson, Woerns, Metzelder, Dede, Frings, Reuter, Kehl, Rosicky, Koller, Ewerthon.
Madrid (4-2-3-1): Casillas, Michel Salgado, Pavón, Helguera, Roberto Carlos, Makelele, Flavio, Figo, Raúl, Zidane, Ronaldo.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Rosicky (Dortmund): Borussia have a real gem in the Czech wonderkid, who BVB defender Christian Woerns rates as a more complete player than Zinedine Zidane due to his "ability to help his team out in defense as well." The audaciously gifted 22-year-old showed flashes of brilliance at the Berneabeu last week but will almost certainly have to perform over the course of ninety minutes on Tuesday in order for his side to overcome Real.
Raul (Madrid): scored the opener against Dortmund last week, and Real will need him firing on all cylinders once again if they are to win this great competition once again.