Real Madrid 5 - 1 Athletic Bilbao (Spanish League, Day 12)

Real Madrid are in cruise control in the league. The Whites thrashed Athletic, last season’s cup and Europa League runners-up, entertained the Bernabéu and secured their fifth straight win in the championship four days before the important Champions League match against City. The match was an attacking exhibition from the home team, who scored five goals, smashed the ball against the woodwork and saw two of the Basque side’s defenders make goal line stops preventing the advantage being even greater. An Aurtenetxe own goal and goals from Ramos and Benzema had settled the match in just over half an hour. Ibai, just before half-time, reduced the arrears, but Özil and Khedira in the second half closed out the match. The Frenchman deserved a special mention on his return to the pitch: he made the first goal, scored the third, and got the assist for the fourth and provoked a constant feeling of fear in the opposing defence. The ovation that his fans gave when he was replaced by Morata spoke for itself.

Karim Benzema celebrating his goal against Athletic Bilbao

Real Madrid returned to the Santiago Bernabeu eleven days after their previous home match. It has been impregnable so far this season, and was once again with Benzema and Modric as the changes in Mourinho’s eleven following last weekend’s important victory in the City of Valencia Stadium. It was a combination of these two players that put Real Madrid ahead in the 12th minute. A precision pass from the Croatian from inside his own half which the Frenchman took out of the air on the edge of the area and Aurtenetxe, whilst attempting to clear the ball, chipped the ball over Iraizoz, who is half way out of his goal. It was the first chance of the match for the Whites. Ronaldo, on two consecutive occasions (4th and 5th minutes), and Callejón in the 7th minute had chances before the goal.

The goal spurred the home team on greatly who had played the first fifteen minutes well enough to deserve a bigger advantage on the scoreboard. Another chance for Ronaldo came in the 13th minute and an even clearer one for Callejon, who bamboozled the centre-back Ekiza on the goal-line and went around the visitors’ keeper but couldn’t score. Athletic tried to improve their game by concentrating on ball control, but their goal was still under constant threat. The next chance didn’t come from any of the attacking players, instead it was Ramos, who joined the attack from a corner taken by Özil and forced Iraizoz into making a miraculous one-handed save in the 23rd minute. It was the prelude to the second goal of the night, which came seven minutes later. The play was similar to the earlier one. Özil took the free-kick and Ramos full length diving header gave him his first Real Madrid goal of the season.

The match looked to be decided and soon took the home team increased the lead in what was a work of art. In the 32nd minute, Xabi Alonso, smarter than anyone, took quick free-kick on the edge of the area, Callejón controlled the ball and gave it to Benzema. The Frenchman received the ball with his back to goal and with Ekiza on top of him, he set up the ball and with the outside of his foot and from out wide he turned and beat Iraizoz with a beautiful left-footed curler. The Frenchman could not have be more precise on his return to the field: he caused the first goal and scored the third in just over half an hour of play (later getting the assist to the fourth scored by Özil), combined well with his teammates and caused a constant feeling of fear in the opposing defence. The match seemed settled and came even closer to being so following cross from Ronaldo that Callejón his against the post, but Athletic did not want to give up so soon and Ibai, in the first shot on goal from the visitors reduced the deficit in the 42nd minute. 3-1. The advantage at the break was significant, but not unassailable.

The first chances of the second half, despite Bielsa opting to bring on Llorente and play with two strikers, were for the home team. The tireless Ronaldo, who played despite the injury that he suffered from the elbow he received against Levante, shot again from the edge of the area, but Iraizoz caught the ball. The Whites did not miss in the next dangerous play which came in the 58th minute. Benzema controlled the ball with his heel outside the area, and saw the arrival of Özil out of the corner of his eye and puts the ball on a plate for German who only had to put it to the net. 4-1 and Real Madrid were enjoying playing in their stadium. Benzema display was lethal and the Frenchman almost got another deserved goal but Aurtenetxe made a goal line clearance. The Frenchman’s control with the outside of his foot and chip over the visiting keeper in the 58th minute deserved a better outcome.

Khedira, who had replaced his compatriot Özil in 60th minute, did manage to get another. The German received the ball from Arbeloa, who controlled the flanks dangerously throughout the match, and with his first shot on goal in the 72nd beat Iraizoz at the far post. 5-1 and, as Ramos did in the first half, the German international opened his goal-scoring account this season. Two minutes later Mourinho took off Benzema for Morata and the ovation that the Bernabéu gave them both was thunderous. It was deserved for a team that secured its fifth straight win in the league just four days before the important Champions League match against Manchester City.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 76,000
Goals: 1-0, m.12: Aurtenetxe (o.g.). 2-0, m.30: Ramos. 3-0, m.32: Benzema. 3-1, m.42: Ibai Gomez. 4-1, m.56: Özil. 5-1, m.67: Khedira.

Levante 1 - 2 Real Madrid (Spanish League, Day 11)

Real Madrid played their seventh game in just over three weeks (one game every three days) in Valencia. The Whites were able to overcome four important injuries, a pitch that made passing the ball extremely difficult due to the heavy rainfall that the city experienced throughout the day and a stadium where no team has been able to beat the home side (they have won 8 times and drawn once). Ronaldo, who was taken off after the first half possibly due to the wound he suffered to his eyebrow caused by David Navarro at the beginning of the encounter, put the visitors ahead in the twenty-first minute and Angel, halfway through the second half, brought the teams level. The Whites, who missed a penalty and hit the crossbar twice, settled the match in the eighty-fourth minute, once again from a free kick. Morata, who had substituted Özil one minute earlier, headed Xabi Alonso’s free kick with his first touch of the ball on his debut in the first team and sealed the fourth consecutive victory in the championship before the international break.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his goal with the wound he suffered in his eyebrow 

Jose Mourinho made up for the injuries to Higuaín and Benzema by playing Ronaldo as a centre forward, although at times he switched positions with Callejon and Di María. The formula supplied the desired result in a match that started with another incident and not just because of the pitch, which made playing football complicated. Ronaldo, who had the first chance of the match with a shot from an angle that Munua stopped in the second minute, was struck by the elbow of David Navarro when jumping for the ball and began to bleed from the injury. Ronaldo was attended to by the doctors on the sidelines for five minutes before returning to the field.

The Portuguese did not let the home side off the hook with the next chance that fell to him. A free kick taken by Xabi Alonso was cleared by David Navarro, who got ahead of Pepe, but only into the six-yard area. Ronaldo, well-positioned, controlled it with his thigh and fired it past Munua without letting the ball tough the ground in the twenty-first minute. 0-1 and the Portuguese, who is now the seventh best goal scorer in the club’s history in the championship (124 goals), scored a goal in one of the few stadiums where he had not scored in La Liga.

The match lacked chances, the pitch preventing them on many occasions, and the best alternative was free kicks, but the intensity of the match was severe. The fight for each free ball was immense and the two teams gave their all in search of their teams respective interests. Ramos’s attempt in the forty-second minute after a cross from Callejon was the last chance of note in the first half. Real Madrid headed to the changing rooms with the slightest of advantages, but an extremely important advantage given the difficult playing conditions.

The second half began with a change and a scare. Ronaldo, probably due to the spectacular blow he received to his left eyelid, was replaced by Albiol and, in the first minute of the second half Levante were the first team to create a chance. A powerful strike by Juanlu from 20 metres brought a spectacular stretching save from Casillas. The Whites did not take long to respond and did so three times in one minute. A long ball to Di María was played on to Callejon, whose shot was cleared by Munua for a corner in the fifty-sixth minute. The Argentine took the resulting corner and attempted to surprise the home side’s goalkeeper with a shot from the corner, but once again the Uruguayan cleared. Another corner and another chance. Özil took the corner on this occasion and Pepe, on his own in the six-yard area, headed it and hit the crossbar having beaten the home side’s goalkeeper.

This was Real Madrid’s best period of play and only the posts prevented the visitors from scoring. Munua failed to clear another corner kick, which was taken by Di Maria, and the ball was loose among a sea of legs. Ramos backheeled intelligently, but the ball ricocheted off Diop and hit the crossbar once again in the sixtieth minute. It was the second time the crossbar had prevented the Whites from scoring in barely four minutes. Di Maria also had an opportunity in the sixty-first minute, but failed to hit the target after beating the goalkeeper with a chip.

This all took place in the build to the equaliser, which was undeserved due to what was taking place on the pitch. A long ball found Martins, who passed the ball to Angel, who beat Casillas with a chipped shot in the one-on-one in the sixty-second minute. Mourinho didn’t take long to react, removing Arbeloa from the match and bringing on Kaka; more attacking force in an attempt to push for victory. The Brazilian’s first touch provided Callejon with an opportunity to score, but the reserve team player was brought down from behind and Muñiz Fernandez pointed to the penalty spot. Xabi Alonso took the penalty, which was saved by Munua in the seventy-second minute.

Alvaro Morata scored the goal of the victory

From that moment until the end of the match the visitors continued to create chances and the deserved goal arrived eventually. Morata, who had replaced Özil in the eighty-third minute, settled the encounter with his first touch of the ball. The goal came, once again, from a free kick. Xabi Alonso took the free kick and the reserve team player headed the ball on his debut in the first team and sealed the victory before the international break.

Summary

Stadium: Ciudad de Valencia
Attendance: 25,354
Goals: 0-1 min.25 Cristiano Ronaldo; 1-1 min. 63 Angel; 1-2 min. 85 Morata.

Real Madrid 2 - 2 B. Dortmund (Champions League, Day 4)

Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund played an exciting match in the Bernabeu. The Whites were losing until the 89th minute, but managed to equalise in a match that they deserved to win from what they showed in the second half. Reus put the visitors ahead in the 28th minute and, as happened in Dortmund, Real Madrid needed little time to level up the match. Pepe, five minutes later, scored his first goal for Real Madrid in the Champions League. On half-time, luck was against the team and Arbeloa, whilst attempting to clear the ball, scored the away team’s second goal. The second half was one-sided in favour of the home team their effort got what it deserved with a great Özil goal from a direct free-kick. The Whites, who had a goal from Callejon wrongfully disallowed, are just one point off of the lead and are ahead of their next two opponents Ajax and Manchester City who are on three on five points respectively. All to play for in the 'group of death'.

Real Madrid could not defeat Dortmund for the second time

League champions and top scorer this season's Champions League against the Bundesliga winners and one of the few remaining unbeaten teams in the competition. A great night of football was on offer in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium and the match did not disappoint anyone. With Varane and Xabi Alonso as the only changes from the previous match, Real Madrid made their intentions clear from the beginning. In fact, Higuaín had the first chance of the match following a long pass from Ramos but he missed by inches in a one-on-one with Weidenfeller. The Germans did not flinch at this initial warning and they continued to play their own game with the ball at their feet.

The match was balanced, exciting and very back and forth. It was played at a frantic pace and the chances came one after another. Schmelzer, following a great assist from Reus, found himself in front of Casillas, but the Whites’ ‘keeper successfully stopped the shot in the 9th minute. The home team had an opportunity 13 minutes later. Higuain’s lay off for Ronaldo who he arriving in the area, but the Portuguese’s shot went over the bar.

Everything indicated that there were goals on there way. That is what happened, although it was the Germans who struck first in the 28th minute. A long pass which was flicked on with a head from Lewandowski and Reus controlled the ball with his chest and finished with a sharply taken volley. 0-1 and everything going against the home team. It was the moment to react and the Whites did so, as they did in the previous match played in Dortmund. In Signal Iduna Park the reply came two minutes later, today it took four more to level the match. Varane won the ball on the edge of the opposition’s penalty area and played the ball to Özil, who crossed from the right wing. Pepe, who had gone up for the corner in the preceding passage of the play, finished with a header. 1-1 and the Portuguese’s first goal in the Champions League for Real Madrid. The defender kissed the club’s crest in celebration and lifted the Santiago Bernabeu crowd who increased the decibels hoping for the winning goal.

Real Madrid pressed and tried to put the Borussia on the ropes, but when it seemed as though the break would arrive with the scores level, the Germans’ second goal came. It was very similar to the away team’s first goal. Hummels again cleared the ball long and Lewandowski flicked it on. The ball fell at the feet of Grosskreutz, who played a perfect first touch pass for the arriving Götze. The Whites had some bad luck as Arbeloa, whilst attempting to clear the ball, put it passed Casillas in the 45th minute.

Real Madrid made two changes at the break. Mourinho brought on Essien and Callejón for Modric and Higuaín, who had been clutching the back of the leg repeatedly during the first half. The Whites’ academy player needed just two minutes to score, but the goal was wrongfully ruled-out for offside. The Whites were completely blowing Borussia away. Real Madrid had two more chances inside the first quarter of an hour, both falling to the newly introduced Callejón, but he shot wide with the first in the 49th and straight at Weidenfeller with the other in the 60th minute.

The Whites’ coach, bravely went for broke and brought off Arbeloa for Kaka in the 76th minute. Three minutes later the Brazilian took the ball into the box and handed laid it off to Di Maria, who tried a pass with the outside of his foot and Ronaldo, in front of goal, saw his shot stopped by an inspired by Weidenfeller. The home side’s dominance was overwhelming and the Whites continued to great chances. Bad luck prevented them getting the equalising goal. That is the only way to explain how they did not score in the 85th minute. Callejon shot from inside the area and with the goalkeeper beaten Schmelzer appeared on the goal line and cleared the ball. The Whites did not give up and their efforts got their deserved reward in the 89th minute with a great goal for Özil from a direct free-kick. Another epic win was on, but it was not possible. Real Madrid, who are only one point off of the lead, are three points ahead of Ajax and five in front of Manchester City, who are their next two opponents.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 76,000
Goals: 0-1, m.28: Reus; 1-1, m.35: Pepe; 1-2, m.45: Arbeloa (o.g.); 2-2, m.88: Özil.

Real Madrid 4 - 0 Zaragoza (Spanish League, Day 10)

Real Madrid secured their sixth straight win in the Santiago Bernabéu stadium against Zaragoza, where they remain unbeaten. The Whites took less than half an hour to decide the match. Higuaín, in the 23rd minute, put his team ahead, scoring in his third straight match and Di María celebrated his 100th official match two minutes later. In the second half, Essien scored the third in the 89th minute and Modric completed the scoring in added time. The Whites’ third straight match without conceding a goal in the championship, who are now, along with Malaga, the team which has conceded the fewest goals in the competition. Also, Mourinho's 100th win, which makes him the coach who has reached this commendable figure the quickest. Excellent news ahead of the match this Tuesday against Dortmund as they mount their assault for the lead of the group in the Champions League.

Modric and Essien scored for the first time playing with Real Madrid jersey

Real Madrid could not have started the penultimate month of the year better. The Whites thrashed Zaragoza, who arrived at the Santiago Bernabéu hoping to make it three consecutive victories. With Albiol as a starter in centre of the defence and Essien y Modric sharing central midfield, the Whites dominated from the start and with the intention of getting their sixth straight win at home, where they remain unbeaten. At least that was what they showed in the first 20 minutes, in which the home team had two chances against the team from Aragon’s zero. Both chances came in the form of Ronaldo headers, but the first went just inches wide of the goal defended by Roberto in the 14th minute and the second, in the 18th, went high.

Zaragoza took their time to create a threat on Casillas' goal, but did so with dangerous diagonal shot from Helder Postiga in the 20th minute forcing the Whites’ academy player into a great full length dive to save it. The move woke Real Madrid up, who inside just five minutes decided the game. Higuaín was the first to score in the 23rd minute. Modric was responsible for taking the corner and Albiol headed towards goal. Roberto’s stop deserved a better result for the visitors, but the Argentine was there and he intelligently picked up the keeper’s deflection to score at his pleasure from the goal line. The third match in a row in which El Pipa has found the back of the net.

The second came thanks to Di María two minutes later and it was the best reward for his persistence. His initial cross hit Abraham, but the rebound fell back at El Fideo’s feet, who shot with a volley and again for a third time to beat Roberto, who had thwarted the Argentine’s second attempt. The first half-hour of the match was not yet completed and Real Madrid had already taken a decisive lead in the match with two goals that showed the strength of the punch that they can pack. They could have even got the third in the 27th minute but Ronaldo’s shot went wide of the far post from inside the area. It was the last clear chance to either team before the break.

Zaragoza came out braver in the second half, but their attacks were either foiled by the solid home defence or by an inspired Casillas. The latter is what happened when Víctor Rodríguez released a venomous shot in the 58th minute which was met with a superb response from the Whites’ keeper. The visitors went closer five minutes later, but the shot of José Mari from the edge of the area crashed against the crossbar.

Real Madrid turned their attentions to putting the match to bed, knowing that in three days they have a demanding match in the Champions League. Things went perfectly to plan and in the final minutes they finished off their opponent. Ronaldo, found the crossbar with a long range free-kick in the 84th minute which was a great introduction for what was to come. Essien, in the 89th minute, and Modric, in added time, scored their first goals for the club and completed the rout. The sixth consecutive home win and third straight match in which the Whites have finished with a clean sheet in the competition. Excellent news ahead of the match this Tuesday against Dortmund as they mount their assault for the lead of the group in the Champions League.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 72,000
Goals: 1-0 min. 23 Higuain; 2-0 min. 25 Di Maria; 3-0 min.89 Essien; 4-0 min. 92 Modric.

Alcoyano 1 - 4 Real Madrid (Spanish Cup, Last 32)

Real Madrid made their 2012/2013 Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey) debut with a commendable away triumph against Alcoyano in the first leg of the tournament's round of thirty-two. Goals came from Benzema and Kaka in the first half then first-team newcomer Jose Rodriguez and the French forward again in the second. The team led by Jose Mourinho proved very effective, managing to thwart their rival's clear opportunities at goal. Nevertheless, a goal from Lara in the final stretch managed to close the gap. The Real Madrid coach formed a line-up full of new faces with respect to the last League match. Academy players Nacho, Morata and Álex were present and the team performed at top level in order to achieve an advantage in the playoff that concludes on 27 November in the Santiago Bernabeu. After their successful result they will now be focussing on their next League match against Zaragoza.

Ricardo Kaka was the best player of Real Madrid

The Whites hit the pitch at El Collao with nine new players in the starting line-up with respect to the last League match played against Mallorca. Alcoyano kicked off the match with the added motivation brought by their rival and the support of their home crowd. With great positioning the local team bore down on the Real Madrid players at the top of the pitch, taking four corners in only seven minutes. At the outset of the match the two teams fought with great intensity to win control of the centre of the field, resulting in a lack of opportunities at goal.

Little by little Mourinho's team freed themselves of their rival's hold and in their first aerial incursion Benzema scored 0-1 (21’). Callejon struggled against the Alicante defense for a long ball and it fell to the Frenchman who advanced well, beating Unai Alba and opening the scoreboard. At that point the Whites began to enjoy themselves more with the ball and control the match. As a result, Morata scored in the 32’ after a good pass from Kaka. However the goal was disallowed by the referee for offside. The second goal did make it on the scoreboard in the 35’, with a shot by Kaka from the edge of the area. Benzema took the ball down the field and passed it to the Brazilian, who scored with a low left-footed shot slipped in next to the left post.

The home team tried coming back thanks to Edison and De Dios, Alcoyano's most effective players. The former shot high on two occasions (38’ y 44’) while Adán, who remained confident throughout the match, blocked the latter's shot from the edge of the area. In the stoppage time Kaka shot a free kick from the side of the field directly at goal in an attempt to surprise the home keeper, but the ball went just over the crossbar.

The second half started with Jose Rodriguez making his debut with Real Madrid. He came on in substitution of Alex, who was well positioned and focused on containing the rivals at all times but was booked for a foul in the 42’. Alcoyano hit the pitch once more applying pressure at the top of the field and looking for opportunities, particularly at moments where the ball was stopped. Modric was the second Real Madrid substitution, going on for Essien in the 60’ just before the third goal (67’). In a great piece of play enabled by the whole team, Benzema passed to Jose Rodriguez inside the area and the academy player scored a fantastic goal, shooting with the inside of his right foot.

In the 70’ Benzema had the chance to score his second goal of the night but the rival keeper kicked his shot clear. The home team sought a face-saving goal but Adan thwarted all their attempts. In the 62’ he saved a shot by Fran Piera from the front of the area and in the 73’ and 75’ he disrupted two other promising rival efforts. There was nothing he could do in the 77’ when Lara shot a penalty kick directly at goal from the right side. The Whites dominated in the final stage and concluded the match with a goal from Benzema in the 87’, who slipped his shot under Unai Alba in a great combination with Morata. After their successful result the team will now be focussing on their next League match against Zaragoza next Saturday.

Summary

Stadium: El Collao
Attendance: 6,500
Goals: 0-1, m.21: Benzema. 0-2, m.36: Kaka. 0-3, m.67: Jose Rodriguez. 1-3, m.72: Javi Lara. 1-4, m.89: Benzema

Mallorca 0 - 5 Real Madrid (Spanish League, Day 9)

Real Madrid were focused, solid and reliable in the Iberostar Stadium. The Whites did not give Mallorca, who until now had won three of four matches at home, any chances and sealed the match in less than half an hour with goals from Higuaín in the 8th minute and Ronaldo in the 22nd. They combined to bring the third and fourth midway through the second half. The Portuguese got the assist for the first and the Argentine was the executor and sealed his seventeenth brace for the club. For the next goal the roles were reversed. Callejon, in injury time, scored the last to seal the fifth win in the league, the team’s seventh consecutive season unbeaten on the island and the second straight clean sheet in the championship.

Goal-fest in Mallorca. Real Madrid scored five goals.

Real Madrid took to the field at the Iberostar Stadium with the same team that finished the match in Dortmund. Modric and Higuain, therefore, were the only changes in the starting line-up from last Wednesday's match. It was the Argentine who needed just eight minutes to put the Whites in front. He did well with visitors’ first chance. A through ball from Di Maria and Gonzalo ‘Pipa’ Higuain took advantage of an Anderson mistake whilst clearing the ball and volleyed past Aouate. It could not have started better for Real Madrid. 0-1 and Mallorca had to push their lines forward and leave more space in their tight defensive formation if they wanted to get the equaliser.

Real Madrid wanted to take advantage of that and kill off the game on the counter attack, an aspect of the game in which they dominate like few others. Cristiano Ronaldo went close in the 10th minute but his venomous strike was met by Aouate. The second goal did come twelve minutes later. It was not the counter attack what the Whites’ took advantage of but rather their relentless pressure on their opponent’s bringing the ball out of defence. Özil won the ball and passed to Di Maria who in turn passed to Higuain who got the assist for Ronaldo’s finish. The Portuguese was the only one who took two touches in the move. One to control the ball and get lose his marker and another to finish accurately into the far corner. 0-2 in less than half an hour and the Portuguese’s thirteenth goal in the eight consecutive matches in which he has scored (his best streak for a club).

The match was almost safe but the Whites were not satisfied. Their dominance was overwhelming and they wanted to increase their lead. Mallorca, meanwhile, only created danger from a cross-shot from Nsue that Casillas deflected for a corner in the 18th minute. With the majority of the possession and the best chances for the visitors the half came to an end.

The script did not change after the break, although Mallorca came out much braver. In fact, the first time that the visitors took a shot was from the edge of the area from Ramos in the 58th minute. Ronaldo also had a chance two minutes later but his shot from distance was caught by Aouate, who could not stop the third in the 70th minute. An accurate assist from the Portuguese and even better finish from Higuaín, who scored his seventeenth brace for the club.

With little time to digest the third, Mallorca received another blow, which also came from a combination of the two authors of the earlier goal. This time there was a change of roles. Higuain gave the pass and Ronaldo, getting in front of the defence, scored the fourth on 73 minutes. Callejon, in injury time, scored the fifth. Goal-fest in Mallorca to get their fifth win in the league, the seventh consecutive season in which the team is unbeaten on the island and the second straight clean sheet in the championship.

Summary

Stadium: Iberostar Stadium
Attendance: 15,700
Goals: 0-1, min. 8: Higuain. 0-2: min. 23: Cristiano Ronaldo. 0-3, min. 70: Higuain. 0-4, min. 72: Cristiano Ronaldo; 0-5, min. 91: Callejon.

B. Dortmund 2 - 1 Real Madrid (Champions League, Day 3)

Real Madrid lost to Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park in the third match day of the Champions League group stage. Lewandowski put the home team ahead in the 36th minute and two minutes later Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored in the last seven matches, took advantage of Özil’s assist to equalise the match with a nice chip. In the second half, in which neither team played with fear of losing the match, Schmelzer gave victory to the German team. Nevertheless, the Whites, who were playing their 350th match in the European Cup, kept alive their chances of qualifying for the next round in first place and will play two of their remaining three matches at home. A win at the Bernabéu against Dortmund in two weeks would give them sole lead of the group.

Real Madrid stumble in Dortmund

Real Madrid only made three changes to the team that played the match against Celta. Khedira, who on 19 minutes was taken off injured and was replaced by Modric, Di María and Benzema were players included in Mourinho's team who took a gamble in playing Ramos and Essien at right and left back. Borussia Dortmund began the match looking ready right from the beginning and wanted to show Real Madrid how they had reached two years undefeated in the Bundesliga in Signal Iduna Park, but the visitors showed solidarity in the defensive and also created problems in the home team’s area. Proof of this is that in the first half hour of the match they had enjoyed 60% of the possession and had already been fouled eight times against the three that they had committed.

Until then the German team had only generated chances from the edge of the area. Kehl’s two lashes at goal (13 'and 27') were met with a great response from Casillas although the second was even better than the first. The Whites could have also taken the lead on three occasions, but Özil missed from in front of goal following a cross from the left in the 5th and Di María’s shot in the 22nd minute and Ronaldo’s in the 26th both went very high.

After that first half hour the match changed completely and control of the match went back and forth constantly between both teams. Dortmund struck first. The ball was played into the hole for Lewandowski in the 36th minute and the Pole did not falter in the one-on-one with Casillas. 1-0 and the Signal Iduna Park roared following the goal which put their team ahead, but Real Madrid did not shy away from the match and the reply was immediate. Only two minutes later from the midfield Özil saw Ronaldo's run and picked him out with a great long pass. The Portuguese, who was faster than the two players marking him subtly chipped Weidenfeller. Two more chances, one per team, came before the break. The first fell to Götze with the ball ending in Casillas’ hands in the 44th minute. The last was Ramos’ following a great cut inside past Schmelzer, but his shot went wide.

The script did not change in the second half and the alternating possession was still the order of the day. No one was afraid to lose the match, both teams attacked with everything and the chances kept coming in what was a pulsating match. Götze had the first chance on 50 minutes. His shot with the inside of the left foot after a good team move was stopped by Casillas. Di María responded. A good inside pass from Benzema and the Argentine, as Ronaldo did for the visitors’ first goal won the foot-race against the German team’s centre backs, but shot well wide in the 55th minute.

There were no truce and it was Dortmund who again went ahead on the scoreboard. Schmelzer who was alert on the edge of the area took advantage of a Casillas punched clearance to put the ball in the back of the net with a volley in the 64th minute. From that moment it was Real Madrid who featured most heavily in the match and Mourinho decided to bring Higuaín on for Benzema. The last fifteen minutes were dominated by the visitors but get the goal that they were looking for. Real Madrid, who were playing their 350th European Cup match, will play two of the three remaining matches that will bring group D to a close at home. A win at the Bernabéu against Borussia in two weeks would give them sole lead of the group.

Summary

Stadium: Signal Iduma Park
Attendance: 80,000
Goals: 1-0, min 36: Lewandowski. 1-1, min 38: Cristiano Ronaldo. 2-1, min 64: Schmelzer