Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund: UEFA Champions League Preview (2024/25 Season)
Real Madrid is set to reclaim their winning momentum in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League as they host Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday. After a promising start with a 3-1 victory over VfB Stuttgart, Madrid faced a setback in their second match, suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Lille. However, confidence is high following their recent 2-1 win against Celta Vigo in La Liga.
In contrast, Borussia Dortmund has been in exceptional form. They kicked off their Champions League campaign with a commanding 3-0 win over Club Brugge, followed by an impressive 7-1 rout of Celtic. Their domestic performance has also been strong, coming into this match with a 2-1 victory over St. Pauli.
This match is particularly significant as it marks the first encounter between the two teams since last season’s Champions League final, where Real Madrid triumphed over Dortmund with a 2-0 victory to secure the title.
Team News
Real Madrid will be without Dani Carvajal, Davide Alaba, and Brahim Diaz due to injuries. Ferland Mendy is expected to return to the starting lineup, likely replacing Fran Garcia at left-back. Rodrygo may also feature in the starting XI for this crucial Champions League clash.
Predicted Lineup for Real Madrid (4-3-3):
Goalkeeper: Courtois
Defenders: Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy
Midfielders: Bellingham, Tchouameni, Valverde
Forwards: Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.
On the Dortmund side, star player Karim Adeyemi, who shone with a first-half hat trick against Celtic, will miss this match due to an injury sustained in that game. He joins Julien Duranville, Gio Reyna, and Yan Couto on the sidelines. Additionally, Pascal Gross and Niklas Sule are doubtful for this encounter.
Predicted Lineup for Borussia Dortmund (4-2-3-1):
Goalkeeper: Kobel
Defenders: Ryerson, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini
Midfielders: Can, Sabitzer
Forwards: Malen, Brandt, Gittens, Guirassy
As both teams look to secure vital points in the Champions League, fans can expect an exciting clash filled with intensity and skill.
