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Preview: Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund

Preview: Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund
© AP Photos
Sports Mole looks ahead to Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final second leg against Borussia Dortmund.

Not even the most biased of Borussia Dortmund supporters would have expected their side to be making the trip to Spain for their Champions League semi-final second leg in such a commanding position.

Many pundits had predicted that Real Madrid would win the tie to reach a 13th Champions League final, but Los Blancos have it all to do at the Bernabeu following their 4-1 defeat in Germany last week.

Quite simply, Jose Mourinho's team must match the record for the biggest first-leg victory overturned in the competition's UEFA Champions League era. The last team to come back from such a deficit was Deportivo La Courna against AC Milan back in 2004.

Despite recent reports, Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to be fit to start for Madrid, who should also recall Angel di Maria. Alvaro Arbeloa will return from suspension, which may see Sergio Ramos move into a centre-back role.

Meanwhile, Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp may have to make do without the services of full-back Lukasz Piszczek, who has picked up a muscular injury.

Dortmund have reached the final once before back in 1997 when they defeated Juventus 3-1 to lift the trophy.

Recent form

Real Madrid: DWWWLW

Dortmund: WWWWWW

Possible starting lineups

Real Madrid: Lopez; Arbeloa, Ramos, Varane, Coentrao; Alonso, Khedira; Ozil, Di Maria, Ronaldo; Benzema

Dortmund: Weidenfeller; Schmelzer, Hummels, Subotic, Santana; Blaszczykowski, Bender, Gundogan; Gotze, Lewandowski, Reus

Sports Mole says: 2-1


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Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo in action against Manchester United on March 5, 2013
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid31246167204778
2Barcelona31217362342870
3GironaGirona31205663392465
4Atletico MadridAtletico31194859362361
5Athletic Bilbao31169651292257
6Real Sociedad311311745331250
7Valencia31138103432247
8Real BetisBetis31111283837145
9Villarreal31109124954-539
10Getafe31912103743-639
11Osasuna31116143644-839
12Las PalmasLas Palmas31107142935-637
13Sevilla31810133944-534
14AlavesAlaves3188152638-1232
15Mallorca31613122536-1131
16Rayo Vallecano31613122538-1331
17Celta Vigo31610153346-1328
18CadizCadiz31413142141-2025
19Granada3138203260-2817
20Almeria31111193062-3214


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