Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund, UEFA Champions League Semi-Final 2nd Leg: Open Thread

The front cover of today’s Marca newspaper in Spain sums it up beautifully. A three-nil win today for Real Madrid is all the side needs to reach the UEFA Champions League Final at Wembley Stadium.

That’s easier said than done. After Real Madrid lost 4-1 against Dortmund in Germany two weeks ago, Jose Mourinho’s team has a massive hurdle in front of them if they want to play either Bayern Munich or Barcelona in the final. One goal for Borussia Dortmund and it could be game over for Real.

Mourinho will need to ensure that the defense is solid in the back, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid’s strikers are clinical in front of goal. For Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp, it’s a tough job to figure out how to play this one. Dortmund knows how to score best, but an attacking policy could leave the Bundesliga team vulnerable at the back.

Real Madrid starting XI: Diego López; Essien, Varane, Ramos, Coentrao; Xabi Alonso, Modric; Di María, Özil, Cristiano; Higuaín.

Borussia Dortmund starting XI: Weidenfeller; Piszceck, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer; Bender, Gundogan; Kuba, Götze, Reus; Lewandowski.

For viewers in the United States, today’s match is being televised on FOX Soccer and FOX Soccer 2Go.

Before, during or after today’s match, join the conversation in the comments section below.