Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Borussia Dortmund, going to host Real Madrid in the first leg encounter of 2nd semifinal in UEFA Champions League.



         
               German Side Borussia Dortmund are going to host the Spanish giant, the most successful side in Champions League history, the nine times European champion Real Madrid in the first leg encounter of the 2nd semifinal of UEFA Champions League in Dortmund tonight.
               The German side will make their attempt to make the final for the first time since winning the trophy in 1997, but their preparation have been heavily hampered by yesterday’s revelation that Mario Gotze will be leaving the club to join their arch-rival Bayern Munich in a  £31.5m deal at the end of the season. The news sees the playmaker end a 12-year association with the club that has been difficult for fans to take before such a high voltage encounter.
              Dortmund remain the only unbeaten side in this year’s tournament, after a late show saw them overturn a 2-1 deficit to qualify for the semi-finals, at Malaga’s expense. Jurgen Klopp's side will be determined to thwart the competition’s top scorer Cristiano
Ronaldo, who has netted 11 goals in Europe this season.
               In the other hand Real Madrid were beaten by the same side at the same venue in their Group league encounter by 2-1 margin following their 2 all stalemate at Santiago Bernabeu.
               Jose Mourinho is without the services of Marcelo, stretchered off at the weekend, so Fabio Coentrao will deputise in his absence. Meanwhile Luka Modric and Karim Benzema may require late fitness tests. Diego Lopez suffered a knock to his ribs on Saturday against Real Betis but Mourinho has confirmed he will play so Iker Casillas remains on the bench.
               Cristiano Ronaldo looks set to provide Madrid's most potent goalscoring outlet, already with11 vital goals in their European campaign to his name and he
currently sits three strikes clear at the top of the tournaments goalscoring charts. For Dortmund Lewandowski looks dangerous having picked up five goals to his name in the tournament whilst Marco Reus will provide valuable support having attained four strikes to his name too.

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