Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund: UEFA Champions League Preview (22-Oct-2024)

On October 22, 2024, Real Madrid will host Borussia Dortmund at the iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in what promises to be a thrilling encounter in the UEFA Champions League. This match is particularly significant as it is a rematch of last season’s final, where Real Madrid emerged victorious with a 2-0 win at Wembley.

Current Form

Real Madrid:

• After a surprising defeat to Lille in their last Champions League outing, Real Madrid will be eager to bounce back. They currently sit second in La Liga, trailing Barcelona by just three points, and have shown resilience with a couple of domestic wins following the setback against Lille [3].
• Key players like Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé will be crucial for Madrid’s attack, especially as they look to capitalize on their home advantage [2].

Borussia Dortmund:

• Dortmund arrives in Madrid with a strong start to their Champions League campaign, having won their first two matches convincingly. They recently secured a 2-1 victory over St. Pauli, with Serhou Guirassy continuing his impressive form, scoring 12 goals in his last eight matches [2].
• Despite their strong European performance, Dortmund has struggled in the Bundesliga, sitting seventh in the league after inconsistent results [3].

Team News

Real Madrid:

• Carlo Ancelotti will be without key defenders David Alaba and Dani Carvajal due to injuries. This could put additional pressure on Antonio Rüdiger, who will need to step up against Dortmund’s attacking threats [3].
• Predicted lineup: Courtois; Vázquez, Rüdiger, Militão, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappé, Vinícius [1].

Borussia Dortmund:

• Dortmund’s squad is bolstered by the return of Niklas Süle, who missed the last match due to illness. They will also rely heavily on Guirassy, who has been in sensational form [2].
• Predicted lineup: Kobel; Ryerson, Schlotterbeck, Anton, Bensebaini; Can, Brandt, Sabitzer; Gittens, Malen, Guirassy [1].

Match Insights

• Real Madrid has a formidable home record in the Champions League, remaining unbeaten at the Bernabéu since April 2022. However, they have not kept a clean sheet in their last five European matches at home [3].
• Dortmund has a challenging history at the Bernabéu, having lost five of their seven visits. They will be looking to change that narrative and secure a vital away win [3].

How to Watch

• Date: October 22, 2024
• Time: 21:00 CET (3:00 PM EST)
• Venue: Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain
• TV: Movistar Liga Campeones, Paramount
• Streaming: Paramount+, Fubo.TV [1].

This match is set to be a crucial fixture in the Champions League group stage, with both teams looking to assert their dominance early in the competition.