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UEFA Champions League: Your Running Commentary

UEFAChampionsLeagueLogo (Getty)

By DAN KARELL

Two of the more charismatic managers in Europe will meet today, as Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid travels to Germany to face Jürgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund in Champions League semifinal action (2:45pm, FX Channel).

Dortmund will have to overcome the news released on Monday evening, with star midfielder Mario Götze agreeing to switch to hated rivals Bayern Munich for next season. The timing of the deal couldn’t have come at a worse time for Klopp’s side, as they look to push into the Champions League final for the first time since they won the competition in 1997.

Real Madrid on the other hand won’t have to worry about locker room issues as much as facing the rabid crowd in Signal Iduna Park, the same crowd that willed Dortmund to victory over Malaga in the last round. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 11 goals in Madrid’s last eight matches, and Mesut Özil has scored four goals in the last two.

Dortmund midfielder Nuri Sahin faces Madrid for the first time since leaving the Spanish capital at the start of the season, while Özil and Khedira will be counted on by Madrid to help prepare for their German opposition.

If you will be watching today’s match please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (You can see a closer look at today’s match-up after the jump):

BORUSSIA DORTMUND vs. REAL MADRID

2:45pm, FX Channel

Players to Watch: BORUSSIA DORTMUND – Mario Götze, Robert Lewandowski, Marco Reus, Sven Bender; REAL MADRID – Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Özil, Karim Benzema, Angel Di Maria.

Quick Kicks: Borussia Dortmund have a full squad to choose from, with Lewandowski shaking off a thigh injury, and midfielders Sebastian Kehl and Sven Bender are fit from their recent injuries. Real Madrid on the other hand have a few more question marks. Luka Modric and Marcelo are doubts after picking up injuries last Saturday, while Alvaro Arbeloa is suspended for the match. Michael Essien and Fabio Coentrao missed the club’s last match with injury, and Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos were rested.

 

Comments

  1. 4years ago Lewandowski was scoring goals in the lowly ranked Polish leagur and now he scored 4goals in a CL semifinal. 1 of the best strikers in the world right now

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    • i been watching it for 20 years, yes its very competitive but still, like LaLiga and the EPL only a hadnful of teams teams have won it the past 10 years. I prefer the EPL.

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    • Yeah i am OK with all German final or to have RM loose in the final but if they get eliminated at this stage is good too.

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  2. As a Borussia fan, this game is as bittersweet as it gets. I already miss Gotze and Lewandowski and they aren’t even gone yet.

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  3. Lewandoski just scores and scores and scores, all the while, making himself a boat load of money for a likely move in the summer for the highest bidder.

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  4. Any chance the Bundesliga might get better television exposure in America soon? They’re stuck on GolTV, which like 18 people have (I’m not one of them) and other than that only seem to be available on illegal streams. This is clearly a great league and I’d love to watch more of it. Here’s hoping ESPN or FOX will provide that opportunity next season and in future seasons.

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    • La Liga and Bundeslilga need to be on an accessible networks like you mentioned. I had Be-In network for a bit but cancelled it. GOAL #2 for Dortmund.

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      • Agree with both of your statements.

        This was the first year in a few years I didn’t get GolTV. Additionally, I refused to support beIN Sports and I’ll never, ever subscribe to their package.

      • I’d rather not jump into a diatribe of reasons I’ve provided countless times.

        I simply refuse to support the network, it’s that simple.

      • Well if it’s that simple, your answer for why you won’t get to watch some good soccer games is very simple as well.

      • haha.

        At this point, I’m expecting both of you to request I create my own blog and provide detailed thoughts and opinions.

        Otherwise, you guys are far too caught up with one statement made in a post.

        Comical.

    • not trying to start anything, but either you’re a Real Madrid fan or you’re watching a different game than me… 1-1 scoreline flatters Madrid at half, and there are still 135+ mins of soccer left before anything is decided in this… and I’m totally neutral in this one. Should be a great second half!

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      • I’d say it is pretty even; Madrid controlling more possession. Dortmund having one more shot. BD starting off stronger, Madrid finishing stronger. So far an entertaining match with some back and forth.

  5. Wow. Ref doesn’t give a penalty to Dortmund (looked like a penalty to me).

    Then, in the very next play….Dortmund gives it away in the back, Higuain squares to Ronaldo for an easy goal. Crazy.

    1-1.

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      • Agree to disagree. Looked like Varane clipped him. Could have easily seen it been called, especially in Germany.

        (although RM seems to be getting the lion share of calls this game)

      • just watched replays, he got tangled on Varane’s leg, but Varane is just running along side him, not attempting to tackle, so if that was called, we would have players getting tangled on purpose all the time.

  6. Dormund pressuring hard and winning second balls. Giving Ronaldo free kicks near the box is not good. Hopefully Dortmund will get the benefit of doubt in regards to the officiating like they did against Malaga.

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  7. Dortmund are already tired. Madrid learned a long time ago that starting a match out like that–wild and emotional–is not the way to go–even if you manage a goal.

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    • I don’t think Dortmund are tired, there’s just no way they were gonna dominate the whole game like they did the first 10 mins. They look fine right now, probably the more likely to get the next goal. But also Madrid score nearly every game, home and away, so I think we can expect more fireworks in this one.

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    • Jones, Johnson, Chandler, Parkhurst, Dolo, Gyau, Brooks, Williams, Wooten, Wood, Morales, etc. all play in Germany. i think we have more players in Germany then anywhere else.

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  8. dream start for Dortmund! Picture perfect cross to Lewandowski who finishes at the back post, Madrid are getting worked thus far…

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