Real Madrid are heading to the UEFA Champions League semifinals. Barely.
Borussia Dortmund vs. Real Madrid: Final score 2-0 (2-3 agg.), Merengues barely hold on
Borussia Dortmund had their chances to book their semifinal place, but it wasn’t to be.
Borrusia Dortmund dominated at the Westfalenstadion as they preyed on a Real Madrid team that looked lost without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, but they could only muster a 2-0 win. And while that win is impressive, they lost the first leg by three goals and needed one more to advance so they tumbled out of the tournament, 3-2 on aggregate.
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Amazingly, Real Madrid could have put the tie to bed after just 17 minutes when Lukas Piszczek was whistled for a handball in the box, but Roman Weidenfeller made an excellent save of Angel Di Maria’s spot kick to keep BVB alive, something they took advantage of not long after.
Dortmund first cut into the Real Madrid lead in the 24th minute when Reus capitalized on a Pepe error. The central defender's attempted header back to Iker Casillas wasn't far enough so Reus got to it, used a lovely little touch to get around Casillas and buried it into the open net.
With a goal in the bank and Madrid’s lead down to two goals, the Westfalenstadion crowd came alive, but their excitement was taken to a whole other level in the 37th minute. That’s when Robert Lewandowski hit the post, but Reus hopped onto the rebound and blasted it into the open net.
In 13 minutes, BVB had gone from 3-0 down to within one. The crowd was deafening and it looked like the home side would finish off the comeback, but it wasn’t to be.
BVB continued to pressure and had several chances to bring the tie level. Reus put Henrikh Mkhitarayan through on goal, but Mkitaryan’s shot hit the post, while Casillas made several fine saves to keep BVB out.
It's not as if Real Madrid were completely toothless, as they did generate a few chances. Had Karim Benzema not trip over the ball once and forget to make runs to get on the end of Gareth Bale crosses on a couple occasions the Merengues would have scored, but it didn't matter in the end.
Real Madrid may not have had Cristiano Ronaldo, or a good match, but they are through.
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller, Friedrich, Hummels, Piszczek, Durm, Mkitaryan, Reus, Jojic, Grossbreutz, Kirch, Lewandowski.
Goals: Reus 24’, Reus 37’.
Real Madrid: Casillas, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao, Carvajal, Alonso, Modric, Illarramendi (Isco 45’), Bale, Di Maria, Banzema.
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