Madrid's struggles in Germany set to continue against Dortmund
A week ago Real Madrid looked set to break the record for consecutive La Liga wins but ended up stumbling, failing to get over the line. Sixteen consecutive wins, equalling a record set by Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, shows resounding dominance. But at home to Villarreal, Los Blancos would have expected their 17th win rather than a match that saw them come from behind just to rescue a point.
Days later Zinedine Zidane's side dropped more points in the title race to newly promoted Las Palmas. Not the sort of momentum that the current champions would want as they head to Germany. Real Madrid have not lost a match in any competition since April - away to Wolfsburg in the Champions League.
With that in mind, there is certainly money to be made in this fixture courtesy of Bet365. New Bet365 customers receive a 100% deposit bonus. When you deposit £10 or more you will qualify for a matched amount to bet with, up to £200. Given the excellent markets on offer for this Champions League match up, you stand to win money from the match.
Talismanic forward Cristiano Ronaldo will be out to prove a point after being unceremoniously substituted off for Lucas Vázquez in Real Madrid’s 2-2 draw with Las Palmas. Not just because he disagreed with any sort of tactic that saw him removed from the pitch, but because he’s just 3 goals short of becoming the first player in history to scored 100 goals in UEFA club competition. Whether his match fitness cooperates with his drive is a whole separate matter.
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The biggest problem for Real Madrid will be in their midfield with Casemiro sidelined by a fibula fracture suffered away at Espanyol. Toni Kroos commented on the loss of his midfield partner saying that he “is a fundamental part of this team, he protects us a lot, something we did not have before.” They could struggle to fill the spaces in front of the defence against a fervent Borussia Dortmund attack.
The hosts will be brimming with confidence. Since failing to score against newly promoted RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund have scored 20 goals in their last 4 goals. They’ve only been stopped twice in 2016 from finding the back of the net at home — both matches against Bayern Munich.
Thomas Tuchel had feared some injury scares, but Andre Schürrle, Marc Bartra and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have all been passed fit. He is looking to utilise the speed in his own attack to exploit the Casemiro shaped hole in Real Madrid’s midfield. He said “Of course we want to utilise Aubameyang and 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.”
With all the firepower on the pitch and some questions hovering over the defence, expect goals in this tie. Dortmund have scored at least 2 goals in each of their 3 home games against Real Madrid. Bet on Borussia Dortmund to score 1.5 goals at 1.83 on Bet365.
Although Real Madrid may have hoped a change in competition might have changed their recent fortunes, a trip to Germany is unlikely to see them get back to winning ways. They’ve won none of their 5 away games against Borussia Dortmund, losing each of their last 3. It is their longest current losing streak on the road, and it looks to continue tonight at 2.30.
With so many bodies committed to scoring, Dortmund can be caught out at the back. They have kept just 2 clean sheets in their last 6 matches, with each of the 4 goals they’ve allowed in being scored in the second half. Real Madrid have netted at least 1 second half goal in each of their last 8 matches in all competitions. Bet on them to score from the 46th mins onwards at 1.66.
