One of the hottest teams in world soccer right now is Real Madrid. It has been 33 matches since Madrid last suffered a defeat (to Wolfsburg in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals in April) and should the Galacticos make it 34 this coming Wednesday, they would equal the longest unbeaten run in their storied history.
They will need more than a draw, though, to secure the top spot in Group F. Real Madrid find themselves second in the group after their shock 3-3 draw with Legia Warsaw last month. They trail German heavyweights Borussia Dortmund by two points heading into their crunch showdown. The good news for Madrid is that their injury concerns are starting to ease up. Alvaro Morata and Toni Kroos are included with the squad after a long injury layoff.
The defending European champions have every reason to be confident for Wednesday’s match, having won each of their last eight Champions League home games. Madrid go into the clash on the back of a 1-1 draw with arch-rivals Barcelona at the weekend that preserved their six-point advantage at the top of the Spanish Primera.
Real Madrid are pegged at -175to score first in this match.
If there’s one team, though, that can stop Real Madrid’s historic streak, it’s got to be Borussia Dortmund. They’re flying high at the moment, leading the group on 13 points. A record is also within Dortmund’s sights, with one more goal enough to equal the most scored in the Champions League group stage. The current mark of 20 is held jointly by European titans Real Madrid, Manchester United and Barcelona.
They displayed that attacking prowess in their last Champions League match, thrashing Legia Warsaw, 8-4. That game featured the most goals in a Champions League fixture. Dortmund captain Marco Reus made a triumphant return from a groin injury, scoring a fantastic double in that contest. He’ll play a pivotal role for the Germans who have lost only once in their last 11 games.
In the reverse fixture against Madrid, Andre Schurrle scored a late goal to hold the Galacticos to a 2-2 draw. That match was played at a frenetic pace and we can expect more of the same this coming Wednesday with Real Madrid going all out for the win. Dortmund will enter this pivotal matchup in a rich vein of form, smashing Borussia Monchengladbach, 4-1, in the Bundesliga last weekend.
Borussia Dortmund are pegged at +137to score first in this match.
Writer’s Prediction
Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund cancel each other out in an entertaining 2-2 draw (+245).
