Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid preview: Cristiano Ronaldo fresh for Champions League crunch clash
Tuesday 27 September 2016 19:42, UK
The biggest clash of the Champions League so far takes place at the Westfalenstadion on Tuesday night when holders Real Madrid visit Borussia Dortmund.
Real are top of La Liga, but consecutive draws mean they arrive in Germany in low spirits after missing a chance to build an early lead over their Spanish title rivals.
Cristiano Ronaldo was taken off for a tactical reasons in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Las Palmas - a rare occurrence at the best of times, but one that is even more unlikely to be regularly repeated following Los Blancos' slide to a draw after Ronaldo's withdrawal.
Both teams recorded wins in the opening round of group matches, but in varying circumstances. Dortmund demolished Legia Warsaw 6-0, while Real needed two late goals to see off Group F's dark horses Sporting Lisbon.
Team news
Casemiro and Marcelo have both been ruled out for Real and have not made the trip to Germany, but Pepe and Fabio Coentrao are both available after shaking off knocks.
Ronaldo should be rested after being taken off against Las Palmas, with Zidane saying fatigue was the reason he withdrew the Portuguese talisman.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Marc Bartra, Andre Schurrle, Adrian Ramos have all be confirmed as available for Dortmund after injury scares, and manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that he's intending to use the pace of Gabon striker Auabameyang to stretch the visitors:
"Of course we want to utilise Aubameyang and (Ousmane) Dembele's pace. In the end you have to be ready for every facet of the game. We try to analyse Real Madrid's performances, disregarding their results. Casemiro is a great loss for Real."
Opta stats
Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid are facing each other for the seventh time in the last five Champions League seasons (two group stage games, two semi-final games and two quarter-final games).
Real Madrid are winless in their five away games against Borussia Dortmund, all in the Champions League (D2 L3). In all European competitions, only against AC Milan and Inter Milan have Real travelled more times without ever winning (7 each).
Real Madrid have lost their last three away games against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, their longest current losing streak on the road in the competition against an opponent.
Dortmund's last six goals against Real Madrid have been scored by Robert Lewandowski (4 goals on 24 April 2013) and Marco Reus (2 goals on 8 April 2014), all at the Signal Iduna Park.
Borussia Dortmund have won their last four home games against Spanish opposition in European competition, scoring at least twice in each of those games.
Dortmund have won seven of their last nine Group Stage games at home in the Champions League (W7 D1 L1), failing to score just once in that run (0-2 v Arsenal, Nov 2013).
Real Madrid have lost just once in the Champions League since the beginning of last season (W10 D3), that defeat however came away in Germany (0-2 v Wolfsburg in April 2016).
Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last 22 Champions League Group Stage matches (W18 D4 L0), last losing at this stage against Dortmund in October 2012.
Los Blancos have won three of their last five away games against German sides (W3 D0 L2); this after a previous run of just one win in 15 games away in Germany in the Champions League (W1 D4 L10).
Dortmund secured their biggest-ever win in the Champions League on MD1 of the 2016-17 campaign against Legia Warsaw (6-0), scoring six goals in the competition for the first time.
Cristiano Ronaldo has netted two direct free-kick goals in his last four Champions League games, the same number he netted in his previous 46 appearances in the competition.
Real Madrid have lost just one of their last 31 Champions League games at the Bernabeu, winning 27 and drawing three. This defeat came against German opposition in the form of FC Schalke 04, however (3-4 in March 2015).
Watch every minute of the Ryder Cup, plus Friday Night Football and the Malaysia Grand Prix, on NOW TV for £10.99. No contract.
