Real Madrid had to come back from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League, but did so in exquisite style as they ran out 5-2 winners. Donyell Malen gave Dortmund the lead on the half-hour mark, with Jamie Gittens then striking to double it only four minutes later, and leave Real Madrid reeling. However, Antonio Rüdiger pulled one back on the hour mark and Vinícius needed only two minutes to score the first of his three goals on the night. Lucas Vázquez gave Los Blancos the lead on 83 minutes, and Vini then added a further two, with one incredibly impressive run and finish, to wrap up a good night for Real Madrid.
Three answers
1. How would Real Madrid play without a pivot?
Having experimented with a back three against Celta Vigo, this was once again a different looking side from Carlo Ancelotti as he decided to bring in Luka Modrić after his impressive cameo in Galicia. The change was that there was no holding midfielder or pivot in the Real Madrid midfield, which allowed Dortmund to overrun them particularly in the first half. Without that anchor, Los Blancos found themselves exposed at times, particularly on the counter, and made huge demands on Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde to cover significant ground to try to cover for the defence. The shape may have set Real Madrid up for a comeback, but it left them incredibly exposed in the opening stages and Dortmund took advantage of that.
2. Would the result here be crucial to the league standings?
Defeat to Lille in France was unexpected in the second round of this league stage, and it meant that Real Madrid have been forced to fight back to avoid possibly not reaching the knock-out stages of the tournament. This win positions Real Madrid well, leaving them in 12th place and only one point outside of the top eight who will avoid a qualifying round. The victory was crucial though, as even a narrow loss would have left them on the edge of the places which mean direct elimination. Some major teams, including Bayern Munich and Atlétcio Madrid, have found themselves with only three points from three games and risking that fate, and it would have meant real pressure on Real Madrid to turn things around at the busiest time of the season as we head into the winter months.
3. How important would this game be heading into Saturday’s Clásico?
Beyond the mere result, this game was always going to have an important knock-on effect on the Clásico on Saturday night purely for the mental factor. Having witnessed Barcelona’s 4-1 destruction of Bayern Munich 24 hours later, it’s a good job Real Madrid already took control of the narrative on Tuesday night. The performance of Vinícius Júnior in particular stole the headlines and made one of the biggest stories of the week about his impending Ballon d’Or, while the Bernabéu is once again looking like a fortress. Barcelona have visited regularly enough to know how imposing this stadium can be, but coming into a motivated stadium fresh out of such a dramatic and passionate win means that Barcelona’s young squad will have to have nerves of steel before the first ball has even been kicked.
Three questions
1. Is Vinícius Júnior the best player in the world?
It’s a good question. It seems almost certain that the Brazilian will be awarded the Ballon d’Or for the 2023/24 season, and this performance is one that is bound to make highlight reels to support his case to retain that crown for 2024/25. Beyond the mere quality of his finishing and attempts on goal, his determination and work rate were an example of how Vini has come to lead this team by example on the field. His 70-yard run and finish to seal the win was indicative not only of his quality on the ball, but also his desire to continue to push for more which simply could not be matched by the defenders whose job it was to stop him. It wasn’t the first time either, as this was just one of a match-high of five dribbles which he completed, once again leading the way in the statistics as well as the eye test.
2. Are there injuries to the squad ahead of the Clásico?
If there was to be a downside to the incredible work rate of the team to turn this tie on its head, it was that muscles ended up paying the price. Rodrygo pulled up in the build-up to Lucas Vázquez’s goal to give Real Madrid a third goal and is now set for an undefined spell on the sidelines which will see him miss the Clásico on Saturday. The other injury came as more of a surprise as Thibaut Courtois was ruled out, at least for Saturday night’s big game. Andriy Lunin has proven himself a more than capable deputy over the past 12 months, but this is Courtois’ second muscular injury in the last month. After a serious injury last season, there may be a need for a more frequently available deputy and that man could be Lunin.
3. Can Real Madrid sustain performances like the second half?
This was a real Jekyll and Hyde performance from Real Madrid. The first half was poor, defensively shabby and lacking any kind of intensity. The second period was a significant improvement, but the question must be asked of whether it’s sustainable to continue playing like that. After describing it as “the best second half of the season”, Carlo Ancelotti reflected that, “I don’t think we can play 90 minutes like we played the second half, but we have to be a bit more balanced”. If Real Madrid hadn’t lacked so much intensity in the first half, it wouldn’t have been required in the second, and finding that middle ground is proving Ancelotti’s biggest challenge this season, and much of that battle lies in having a stable press that does involve the front line.