Real Madrid get ready to take on Borussia Dortmund in the group stage of the Champions League. Here are three key questions ahead of that match.
Can Real Madrid contain the high flying Borussia Dortmund?
If the loss of Ousmane Dembele was supposed to hobble Borussia Dortmund’s attack, Dortmund’s players apparently didn’t get the message. Dortmund is off to a flying start to their Bundesliga campaign.
Dortmund is currently setting club records for the best start to a Bundesliga season ever. After six matches, Dortmund has the club’s best ever record of sixteen points from their five wins and one draw. That leaves them sitting pretty at the top of the Bundesliga table.
They also have their best ever goal differential, coming in at plus-eighteen after having scored nineteen and conceded only a single goal. Given the problems that Real Madrid have had with putting the ball in the back of the net this season, the fact that Dortmund have only conceded one goal is scary enough as it is.
But the trickier part is going to be containing Borussia Dortmund’s high flying attack. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Christian Pulisic, and Andriy Yarmolenko are forming a fierce attacking trio capable of picking apart defenses with ease.
Dortmund also has incredible strength in depth this season. With the likes of Maximilian Philipp, Julian Weigl, Jeremy Toljan and Mario Gotze all available as well, Borussia Dortmund has a versatile squad capable of competing at the highest levels of European Football.
Dortmund has caused Real Madrid problems in the past, knocking them out of the Champions League in 2013. Although Real Madrid managed to get revenge the following year, Dortmund will always be a tough challenge in the Champions League, and this season will be no exception.