Champions League
2013-04-24 - Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid
A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser
Football : UEFA Champions League
Venue: Westfalenstadion
Wednesday 24th April 2013 – Kickoff time 20:45
Match Preview :
Borussia Dortmund are in the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 1998 and this clash has been presented as:
'The most spectacular home game in the history of Borussia Dortmund' on the Bundesliga club's website.
Following Bayern Munich's 4-0 huge win over Barcelona last night, now Borussia Dortmund will want to make it another win for the German Club over their Spanish opposition.
Meanwhile, Klopp has urged his side's fans not to vent their frustration at today's revelation that Mario Gotze will be joining Bayern Munich this summer and focus their efforts only on supporting the team tonight.
Klopp's pre-match press conference was full of questions over about Gotze after it was revealed that the attacking midfielder would be joining new Bundesliga champions Bayern on July 1. The news of the 20-year-old's impending departure has been greeted by fierce criticism from Dortmund supporters, and the timing is all wrong as they prepare to for the vist of Madrid to the Westfalenstadion.
Nevertheless, Klopp does not want the transfer bombshell to be an issue amongst the fans when Dortmund take the field stating that the team come before any individual. He was quoted as saying:
"Since this will be my last chance to appeal to our fans, I want to say once again: leave the negative thoughts at home, come here and give us everything you've got and let us beat Real Madrid."
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho hopes this is the year he will be able to win the Champions League trophy in what could be his last season with the Spanish side. In the last two seasons, they were beaten by Barcelona and Bayern Munich ended their previous adventures in the competition but Mourinho hopes it will be third time lucky when they take on Borussia Dortmund tonight.
Mourinho was quick to point out that their defeat to Barcelona two seasons ago was best forgotten and the defeat to Bayern Munich on penalties was very tough on them and he would like his side to win the competition as a team this time.
For the record Madrid met Dortmund in the 1998 Champions League semi-finals and knocked the then holders out 2-0 aggregate defeat before going on to lift the trophy themselves. However, when these two sides met in this season's Champions League, Dortmund came out the better after winning 2-1 at home in the group stages before drawing 2-2 at the Bernabeu in a match which saw Madrid scored an 89th-minute equaliser through Mesut Ozil.
Mourinho admitted that his side needs to do better at defending as they conceded those goals which could have been avoided as it was their own mistakes.
Real Madrid could lose their Primera Division title to Barcelona this weekend if results go against them, but Mourinho opted to reveal at the pre-match press conference what his side will be for the first leg, with the only question mark being winger Angel Di Maria who is set to travel to Germany tomorrow following the birth of his child.
Mourinho has left out Iker Casillas and will again go for Diego Lopez in goal. Sergio Ramos will line up at right-back, Fabio Coentrao will play at left-back with Marcelo out injured and Gonzalo Higuain will start up front ahead of Karim Benzema.
Go for Real Madrid on level ball not to lose this match.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Real Madrid
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Take Real Madrid on Level Ball Asian Handicap.
