Vini Jr stars as Real Madrid script sensational 2nd half comeback over crumbling Dortmund

Thursday 24 October 2024

UCL 2024/25

Real Madrid Vs Borussia Dortmund

Estadio Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Av. de Concha Espina, 1, Chamartín, 28036 Madrid, Spain

Vini Jr stars as Real Madrid script sensational 2nd half comeback over collapsed Dortmund

Vinicius Jr scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid smashed 5 goals in the second half to script a stunning comeback from 2-0 down to win 5-2 over a Dortmund side that collapsed in the second half

MATCH PREVIEW:

This game is a re-match of the 2023/24 UCL final held in Wembley where the defending champions, Real Madrid won 2-0, thanks to Carvajal and Vini Jr scoring for Carlo Ancelotti's side, which resulted them in winning their 15th UCL title in June. Now, it's a different story. This year, the format has changed and both sides have had incomings and outgoings. Toni Kroos has officially retired from football following his nation's quarter-final exit in the EUROS in July. But the main news was that, Kylian Mbappe has been unveiled to the Real Madrid fans on 16 July following the expiration of his contract at PSG, with no other signings to be made by the veteran Ancelotti. Whereas the runners-up Borussia Dortmund, have undergone various changes. Paris Brunner, Mateu Morey, Jadon Sancho and club legend Marco Reus have left the club. And Edin Terzic, a life-long Dortmund fan, who guided his team to the final last year, has left the club from his two-year spell at Dortmund, with former Turkish international & Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid midfielder, Nuri Sahin coming to the helm. The Black and Yellows have done some good business in the transfer window by bringing in 2 players from fellow rivals, Stuttgart by signing, Sehrou Guirassy and Waldemar Anton, as well as signing Germany's top prospect, Maximilian Beier from Hoffeinheim. And the difference is, ex-Manchester City academy player, Jamie Gittens, is now getting regular starts under Sahin, after Sancho's loan deal expired. Who will fare from this clash? Can Real Madrid maintain their wonderful unbeaten home record, or will Dortmund upset the odds and claim an away win at the Santiago Bernabéu?

TEAM NEWS & FORM GUIDE:

From a 3-man defence, Carlo Ancelotti makes 3 changes from their narrow win against La Liga side Celta Vigo, with Luka Modric, Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy coming in for Fran Garcia, Eduardo Camavinga & Aurélien Tchouaméni. Form Guide: (WDLWW)

Starting XI: Courtois, Mendy, Rüdiger, Militao, Vazquez, Modric (C), Valverde, Bellingham, Vini Jr, Mbappe, Rodrygo. Formation: 4-3-3.

Substitutes: Lunin, Camavinga, Tchouaméni, Güler & Ceballos.

After squeezing past St Pauli in the Bundesliga, Nuri Sahin makes 3 changes to the team that won 2-1, with Niklas Süle, Marcel Sabitzer & Felix Nmecha starting in place of Waldemar Anton, Emre Can and Pascal Gross. Form Guide: (LWWLW)

Starting XI: Kobel, Bensebaini, Schlotterbeck, Süle, Ryerson, Nmecha, Sabitzer, Gittens, Brandt (C), Malen, Guirassy. Formation: 4-2-3-1.

Substitutes: Meyer, Anton, Gross, Beier & Can.

ONES TO WATCH:

1. Vinicius Jr. - The Ballon D'Or nominee, who will most likely win the prize next Monday, has been in scintillating form this year! A menace on the wing, he has given Julian Ryerson a very tough game, but now, is he to make something special happen for his side? 

2. Kylian Mbappe - The summer signing has been superb for Real Madrid. Despite a slow first 3 games, he has adjusted very well to life in the La Liga, albeit being sidelined for a few weeks with a muscle problem. With 7 goal contributions in the Spanish top flight, can he get a goal in the UCL?

3. Jamie Gittens - The rising English star has been superb for Dortmund. Even though he has played the role of super sub on the bench, he has shone brilliantly under Nuri Sahin and has gotten himself 4 goal contributions in 7 games in the German Bundesliga. Can he spark a threat for the Black and Yellows?

KICK-OFF: FIRST HALF

Dortmund kick-off in Madrid as the game beigns! It's going to be a thrilling game with the home fans bouncing in their seats, hoping for the defending champions to bounce back from their shock loss away to Lille in the previous matchday. This is Real Madrid, and they're at home. The support will be massive and can the hosts win this game to catch up with the leaders, Aston Villa in the league phase table? The visitors, Dortmund, have NEVER WON at Madrid, with their most recent visit, a 3-2 loss back in December 2017. We're 20 minutes in and for the first time, we're seeing Dortmund dominate the game with possession and not the hosts, which is making the fans go impatient as a result. But the players are doing their best to keep the ball, but it's been a rather equal start from both teams. But on 30 minutes, Dortmund scored! What's happening here as we Dortmund carry the ball forward, towards the edge of the area, with Brandt, the skipper. Passes it nicely through the needle towards Guirassy. Holds it up nicely, AND DONYELL MALEN SCORES FOR BORUSSIA DORTMUND!! AT LAST, WE HAVE LIFT OFF IN MADRID!! DONYELL MALEN HAS STUNNED THE BERNABEU, WITH A SUPERB FINISH BEYOND COURTOIS!! RMA 0 - BVB 09 1!! Simply amazing from Nuri Sahin's team! 

Malen opens the scoring for Dortmund after 30 minutes, after linking up with Guirassy.

Do not doubt Real Madrid here, ladies and gentlemen! They're known as the comeback kings at the Bernabéu. And from every losing position, Real have gone on to win their games in all competitions with their previous loss coming in 2023 to Villareal in the La Liga. Can the hosts find a response to this goal? Well, no they couldn't as Dortmund continued to apply the pressure onto the hosts, with some good pressing and possession. And 4 minutes later, they got their second! Real Madrid are really struggling to contain the Black and Yellows as they continued to attack the Dortmund defence. A counterattck from the visitors involving Brandt and Malen, is a good one! In the box goes the Dutchman, past Mendy. In goes the cross & JAMIE GITTENS HAS SCORED FOR DORTMUND!! ABSOLUTELY MAGICAL FROM THE VISITORS! IT'S THOSE TWO ON THE WING THAT HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY IMPRESSIVE! MALEN'S CROSS AND GITTENS WITH THE FINISH!! What is going on with Real Madrid's defence today? This is simply not good at all! They were all focused on Sehrou Guirassy, which allowed Malen to find the young English winger, and that's 2 goals in 4 minutes for Borussia Dortmund. The Germans are in dreamland!!

Julian Brandt celebrates Jamie Gittens's finish on 34 minutes.

This has truly been a magical 45 minutes for Borussia Dortmund, as they have been terrific throughout the game. They have truly silenced the home crowd, if Real Madrid are to catch up with Aston Villa and the visitors in the league table, something has to be done. 

And a couple of really great chances fell for Real straight after the 2nd goal. Bellingham's header saved by Kobel, and straight after the header, a double chance for Bellingham and Rodrygo, which resulted in the ball hitting the crossbar, much to the relief of Gregor Kobel and the Dortmund defence. HALF-TIME at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. 

KICK-OFF: SECOND HALF

Shocked and stunned, Real Madrid kick-off the second half, trailing by a 2-goal deficit! Much to the concern of the home supporters, the hosts started to carve out chances, with Valverde's shot turned behind by Kobel for a corner. At the other end, Donyell Malen's shot saved by Thibaut Courtois. Sooner or later, Real Madrid dragged a goal back into the contest. Madrid are keeping up the pressure as they have another corner. Taken short by Vini Jr, in goes the cross, cleared away, but not entirely by Dortmund. Mbappe has the ball, dribbles towards the by-line. In goes the cross, RÜDIGER!!! REAL MADRID ARE NOT OUT OF IT YET! ANTONIO RÜDIGER ON THE HOUR!! HE HEADS IN HIS SECOND GOAL IN THIS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEASON, TO GET MADRID BACK INTO THE GAME! No chance for Kobel! RMA 1 - BVB 09 2!! 

Rüdiger encourages the home crowd for more support after scoring Real's first goal of the game on 60 hours!

That was much needed from the hosts! And this game is starting to take a turn in tide! 2 minutes later, it was 2-2! The relentless Madrid pressure continues, as the cross goes in towards Mbappe. Tackled by Schlotterbeck, AND TAPPED HOME BY VINICIUS JR.!!! YOU DO NOT WRITE OFF REAL MADRID LIKE THIS!! THEY ALWAYS FIND A WAY THROUGH AT HOME. THE 24-YEAR-OLD BRAZILIAN FINDS THE EQUALISER BY TAPPING INTO THE EMPTY NET, KOBEL WAS NOWHERE NEAR THE BALL. RMA 2 - BVB 09 2! And from 2-0 down, it becomes 2-2 within the space of 2 minutes!!

Vini Jr scores the equaliser on 62 minutes to level the score. 

Dortmund have been terrific up to this point. But this is what happens, when you score against Real Madrid first at home. The pressure is now on the Schwarzgelben (Black and Yellows) as they look to try and re-take the lead. Real Madrid continued to up the anti, every time they go and threaten Gregor Kobel in the Dortmund goal, but the Swiss man is up to the task of saving the shots. Entering into the final 10 minutes, and this is where Real Madrid have scored the most number of goals in all competitions at the Bernabéu. And the comeback was complete on 83 minutes. Brilliant from Rodrygo, and lovely work to keep the ball in play from the Brazilian. He finds Lucas Vazquez. Plays the one-two with Mbappe, AND VAZQUEZ FIRES HOME THE WINNER!! 83 MINUTES ON THE CLOCK AND REAL MADRID HAVE COMPLETED THE COMEBACK AT HOME, YET AGAIN!! BEAUTIFUL FROM THE SPANIARD!! Vazquez plays a lovely one-two with Mbappe and fires it beyond Kobel, who stood no chance! RMA 3 - BVB 09 2!! Absolute pandemonium at the Bernabéu!!

Lucas Vazquez fires home Madrid's 3rd goal on 83 minutes.

Amazingly, another goal for Madrid 3 minutes later. Emre Can loses it and sends the relentless Vini Jr through on goal. NO ONE CAN STOP HIM!! AND VINICIUS FIRES HOME THE 4TH GOAL FOR REAL MADRID ON 86 MINUTES!!! BRILLIANT WORK FROM JUDE BELLINGHAM TO RETRIEVE POSSESSION FOR HIS TEAM, AND THE PACEY WINGER IS THEN SENT THROUGH ON GOAL WITH NO DORTMUND PLAYER GOING WITH HIM!! THIS IS SIMPLY SENSATIONAL FROM CARLO ANCELOTTI'S LOS BLANCOS!! RMA 4 - BVB 09 2!! AND THE HOME CROWD CONTINUE TO ROAR!  

Vini Jr makes it 4-2 to Real Madrid with barely minutes remaining. 

This is simply sensational from the defending champions. They always find a way to win a game. And Vinicius Jr got his fairytale ending, with a superb hat-trick in stoppage time. Vini Jr is simply unplayable tonight, as he dribbles into the penalty area, past Anton, past Schlotterbeck, past Süle. AND HE FIRES IN NUMBER 5!! 5 OF THE BEST AND IT'S A HAT-TRICK FOR VINICIUS JR IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. SIMPLY SENSATIONAL FROM REAL MADRID. THEY HAVE PLAYED SOME OUTSTANDING FOOTBALL, AND HAVE SENT THE WARNING TO ALL THE OTHER TEAMS IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. RMA 5 - BVB 09 2!!

Vini Jr makes it 5-2 to Madrid in stoppage time by scoring his hat-trick.

AND THAT IS THAT! Full-time here at Santiago Bernabéu, with Real Madrid securing their 2nd win in the league phase.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Vinicius Jr

Match ball, MOTM, hat-trick and everything he can do. Relentless, quick, and precise with 3 goals.