Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund – UEFA Champions League – Preview, Team News and Updates

Five months ago, Real Madrid clinched their 15th Champions League crown by defeating Borussia Dortmund in the finals. However, the German giants have a chance to avenge that loss, as they face Los Blancos later tonight at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu for a much-anticipated rematch. Under the dazzling lights of Champions League football, Dortmund will be eager to settle the score in what promises to be a thrilling showdown tonight.

We have only had two gameweeks of Champions League action so far this season, which means every club still has six league phase games to play, thanks to the new format. So, while it’s tempting to read into the standings, things are still wide open. That could all shift after Gameweek 3, as the table starts to take shape, and the top contenders rise above the rest. As we all know, Real Madrid are Creme de la Creme of European football, but they have started the season in inconsistent fashion. After two games, Los Blancos only have three points on the board.  

Meanwhile, Dortmund have been one of the standout performers during the early stages of UCL. They have secured two wins from two games and are currently perched atop the UCL table. So, with both teams gunning for one of the eight guaranteed spots in the knockout rounds, tonight's clash between last season's finalists has all the ingredients for a Champions League classic. 

Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund – Match Preview 

If there is a club synonymous with the Champions League, it’s Real Madrid. The 15x winner of the competition have cracked the code of continental success. Therefore, it’s no surprise that many still back Los Blancos to claim the trophy yet again this season. But even the best stumble, and Madrid hit a bump earlier this month when they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat thanks to a goal from Jonathan David. This defeat was Real’s first UCL defeat since May 2023, when Manchester City dumped them out of the Champions League in semis.  

However, it’s not all doom and gloom for Madridistas, as they have one victory under their belt this season. They got the better of Vfb Stuttgart during their UCL opener at Santiago Bernabeu thanks to goals from Endrick, Mbappe and Rudiger. On the domestic front, Real Madrid have bounced back well from their disappointing loss to Lille. They have secured victories against Villareal and Celta Vigo, either side of the international break. These results have propelled them to second in La Liga, just three points behind bitter rivals Barcelona. Therefore, Los Blancos head into their crunch game against Dortmund in buoyant mode, and with 85,000 Madridistas backing them in Santiago Bernabeu, it’s looking like Madrid hold all the aces against their German opponents. 

Having said that, Borussia Dortmund have started their UCL campaign in blistering form. They thrashed Belgian side Club Brugge 3-0 in their UCL opener, before humiliating Scottish champions Celtic 7-1 at Signal Iduna Park. Karim Adeyami was absolutely electric in Dortmund's stunning 7-1 rout of Brendan Rodgers' side, netting a remarkable hat-trick in just 31 first-half minutes. It was a true display of dominance, with summer signing Serhou Guirassy adding a brace to the tally. Emre Can and Felix Nmecha also got in on the action, rounding out an unforgettable night for the Black and Yellows. 

Despite their dominance in Europe, Dortmund have struggled on the domestic front. Nuri Sahin’s men currently occupy the 7th spot after racking up four wins, two losses and a draw in seven Bundesliga Games. While they secured a nervy 2-1 win against St. Pauli in their latest match, Dortmund have been on the wrong end of two humbling away defeats to Stuttgart (5-1) and Union Berlin (2-1). To make matters even more daunting, Real Madrid haven’t lost a UCL game at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu April 2022.  

Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund – Team News and Updates 

Adeyemi's brilliant hat-trick against Celtic came with a hefty price tag, as the German forward suffered a significant hamstring injury just after halftime. Unfortunately, he’s expected to be sidelined until the end of November. He’s not alone in the Dortmund treatment room, as Julien Duranville (thigh), Giovanni Reyna (groin), and Yan Couto (muscle) are also nursing injuries. Additionally, Pascal Gross and Niklas Sule are considered doubtful; Gross had to be substituted at halftime during the win over St. Pauli but has been training. 

If Gross can’t play, either Felix Nmecha or promising youngster Jamie Bynoe-Gittens is set to step in. Should Bynoe-Gittens score, he would make history as the youngest English player to find the net against Real Madrid in the Champions League, breaking the record previously held by a 20-year-old Alan Smith, who scored for Leeds United in 2001. 

Meanwhile, Real Madrid are welcoming back Kylian Mbappé, who has fully recovered from a muscular issue. The only absentees for Los Blancos ahead of Tuesday’s clash are Dani Carvajal (knee), David Alaba (knee), and Brahim Diaz (abductor). With Carvajal undergoing season-ending surgery, there’s been chatter about a potential January swoop for Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, but for now, Lucas Vazquez will hold down the right-back position. One expected change in the starting lineup is Ferland Mendy coming in for Fran Garcia on the left side of defense. Rodrygo is also hoping to reclaim his spot in the XI, potentially taking over from Aurelien Tchouameni, who left Monday’s training session early due to some discomfort. 

Real Madrid’s Possible Starting XI: Courtois; Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr. 

Borussia Dortmund’s Possible Starting XI: Kobel; Ryerson, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Can, Sabitzer; Malen, Brandt, Gittens; Guirassy. 

Last Five Results of Real Madid and Borussia Dortmund (All Competitions) 

Real Madrid: W, D, L, W, W 

Borussia Dortmund: L, W, W, L, W 

Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund – Kick-Off Time and Date 

The game is scheduled to take place on 23rd October 2024 (Wednesday) at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid. The match will kick off at 12:30 AM (Indian Standard Time).   

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