UEFA-CL: Real Madrid v. Borussia Dortmund
2:45 PM ET
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Preamble: Welcome to The Score's ongoing coverage of the UEFA Champions League. Today we have the top two sides in Group D - aka the Group of Death - meeting at the Santiago Bernabeu, as second-place Real Madrid hosts group-leading Borussia Dortmund.
On Oct. 24, Dortmund edged Madrid 2-1 in Germany. I'd expect even better entertainment this time around. So, you know, I hope you're ready. -
Team Sheets
Real Madrid
Casillas, Varane, Pepe, Ramos, Ronaldo, Özil, Alonso, Arbeloa, Modric, Higuaín, Di María. Bench: Adán, Kaká, Carvalho, Essien, Albiol, Callejón, Nacho.
Borussia Dortmund
Weidenfeller, Subotic, Hummels, Piszczek, Schmelzer, Kehl, Gündogan, Götze, Reus, Grosskreutz, Lewandowski. Bench: Langerak, Löwe, Santana, Bender, Leitner, Perisic, Schieber -
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2min: Higuain is in on goal already! And he really should have done better. A long ball from the back split the Dortmund defense easily, but Higuain hesitated initially. His touch also let him down somewhat, allowing Weidenfeller to break from his goal line and deflect the shot at its source.
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5min: The first opportunity for Dortmund to push forward highlights the danger presented by the Germans. Lewandowski broke down the left side and into the box before attempting to pull the ball back into the center of the area for Reus. Varane read the play well, though, and hooked the ball out of danger.
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10min: Oh my. So nearly an opening goal from the visitors. Schmelzer provided a killer overlapping run down the left. He was picked out by Reus, breaking past a bemused Ramos, but his left-footed strike, from the left of the box, was saved by Casillas with his legs. Lewandowski had an opportunity to follow up from the center of the area, but his shot soared over the crossbar. The Poland international will be disappointed with that, no question.
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13min: Ronaldo wastes no time getting involved once on the ball, winning a free kick from Kehl. Dortmund manage to head clear the free kick and then break on the counter through Gotze. Gotze, from the left side near the byline, finds Groskreutz on the left edge of the box. With space, the midfielder decides to have a pop at goal, and it's a driven shot that forces Casillas into an unconventional punch away.
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22min: This is a real chance for Madrid. Higuain, who appeared to be offside, is not. He's picked out promptly, moving down the inside-right channel, and loops a cross to the back post for an unmarked Ronaldo. Ronaldo manages to get his head to the cross but can only direct the header wide of the near post. Ronaldo complains afterward, asking for that ball on the ground - and, you know, he's probably right about that one.
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28min: Lewandowski beat Pepe to a kick forward from Hummels and headed the ball into the path of Reus, who was advancing down the right-inside channel. Reus did the rest, holding off Arbeloa and taking one touch before lashing a half-volley past Casillas at his near post. Casillas may have done better, but that was superbly struck.
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