Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund. It would be easy to call this one a classic David v Goliath. Indeed, when you compare the Spanish giants’ 9 European Cups to the solitary one the Germans won in 1997, the scales look pretty unbalanced. And in terms of personnel – both on the field and on the sidelines – the difference is even starker. Aristocrats v plebians. The special one v the schleppy one.
Except, of course, that football is a team game, and as teams go, Borussia Dortmund is a damn good one. So good, in fact, that they’ve already beaten Real Madrid once in the group stages of this Champions League – and came within a minute of winning at the Bernabeu. They also managed to win back-to-back Bundesliga titles over the last two seasons, despite competing with a very good Bayern Munich side, and remain the only unbeaten side in this season’s Champions League.
Manager Jurgen Klopp has moulded a bunch of young, committed players into an immensely, competitive unit that has proved more than a handful for Europe’s best this season. That he has done it without spending big on established stars is even more remarkable. If anything, Dortmund has consistently shipped out its best players over the last three years – with the likes of Lucas Barrios, Shinji Kagawa and the now returned Nuri Sahin all departing for greener pastures. And you can add to that list the name of 20-year old Mario Gotze, whose impending departure for Bayern Munich was only just announced.
The one big-money addition – German international Marco Reus – has proved good value for the 17 million Euros Dortmund splashed to lure him from Borussia Monchengladbach last summer, and his attacking combo with Gotze and the prolific Robert Lewandowski could cause problems for the Real backline.
There’s more to Dortmund than just attacking prowess though; Roman Weidenfeler is a reliable and experienced last line of defence; Mats Hummels is one of the best ball-playing defenders in Europe, and he’ll partner either Neven Subotic or quarter-final hero Felipe Santana in central defence; and then there are the unsung midfield workhorses – Ilkay Gundogan and Sven Bender.
Even so, Dortmund will need to produce their best football to get past Jose Mourinho’s potent counter-attacking machine. Real are finishing the season in much better shape than they started and have their eyes firmly set on decima – a 10th European title. Real have the star players that can turn any game – not least the free-scoring Cristiano Ronaldo – and that can prove crucial in a close game. But they’ve also become a stronger unit, with a solid defensive base built around Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane in central defense, and the assured passing and industry of Xabi Alonso in midfield.
But Real’s biggest asset will be Mourinho, and the fact that he has already had a chance to run the rule over Dortmund twice in this year’s competition. The Portuguese tactician has shown his acumen at eventually solving difficult problems time and again, and it would surprise me if Dortmund managed to get the better of Real over the two legs.
In a battle between two quick, counter-attacking sides, it may come down to defensive solidity - or mistakes – in the final analysis. I think Dortmund will find Ronaldo and co. just a little too hot to handle and Real Madrid will return to the final for the first time in 11 years.
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