Mario Götze, who linked up well with his close friend Reus and was one of the key figures in the club’s recent meetings with Real, is now at Bayern Munich, while midfielder Ilkay Gündogan has almost been forgotten. Neither Ivan Perisic or a prematurely-departed team bus were involved this time; rather the midfield schemer has been sidelined with a persistent injury that looks set to rob him of the entire season. On top of that, Robert Lewandowski, the four-goal hero from last year’s semi-final meeting with Real Madrid, will be absent at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu through suspension. In terms of creative talent, that just leaves Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Reus.
"Marco is among the best players in Germany," said Reus’ Dortmund and Germany international colleague Mats Hummels after the victory in Stuttgart. "He’s world class." Reus has repeatedly demonstrated that he knows precisely where the goal is, even on Real Madrid’s turf, where he fired Dortmund in front in the group stages last season before a Mesut Özil wondergoal denied the visitors victory. The Spaniards are unlikely to be caught off guard this time as Dortmund are now very much a part of the established European elite.
Real warm-up in style
Furthermore, Cristiano Ronaldo and Co have evidently overcome the minor wobble they suffered last week. Real’s 31-game unbeaten streak came to an end with a 4-3 defeat in the Clasico at home to FC Barcelona and the side then lost a second successive game for the first time in five years with a surprise 2-1 reverse away to FC Sevilla. However, Real bounced back in style on Saturday with a 5-0 thumping of city rivals Rayo Vallecano. Ronaldo inevitably got his name on the scoresheet, alongside Gareth Bale, who scored twice, as well as Daniel Carvajal and Alvaro Morata.
Nevertheless, Michael Schulz, one of Dortmund’s battle-hardened warriors of yesteryear, believes his former club have every chance of success in the Spanish capital. "Real won’t have forgotten about last year’s matches," said the erstwhile defender, who was part of the Dortmund team that beat Auxerre in the European Cup semi-finals in 1992/93. "Their subconscious will suddenly pop up and say 'hello, I’m here'. Dortmund always have a chance, irrespective of the opponent. That goes for Real Madrid too." With Marco Reus on board, the odds are a whole lot better.
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It was with a sense of confidence that Borussia Dortmund departed for Spain yesterday as they prepare to duel with Real Madrid once more in their Champions League quarter-final first leg tie on Wednesday (from 20:45, live on ZDF and Sky). The presence of Marco Reus alone has given the squad a boost, with the Germany international in dazzling form heading into the season finale.
The team had missed the attacker in recent outings, but in virtually single-handedly turning a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 victory with a hat-trick against VfB Stuttgart at the weekend, it was clear that Rolls Reus has well and truly returned.
Klopp: "Football fans all over Germany will be delighted Marco’s back"
Dortmund’s No11 scored with either foot and also netted a penalty, taking his domestic goal tally for the season up to 12. The win also dispelled media claims of a pre-Champions League curse having taken hold of the side, after Dortmund recently lost several Bundesliga matches that preceded a European fixture. Coach Jürgen Klopp is hoping that triumph can provide the spark his charges need going into tonight’s game.
"Football fans all over Germany will be delighted Marco’s back," said the Dortmund strategist. Since the turn of the year Reus has twice been forced to the sidelines with muscular problems and Germany national team coach Joachim Löw did not include him in his squad to face Chile.
Reus decisive
The break appears to have energised Reus, however. While his colleagues slumped to defeats against his former club Borussia Mönchengladbach and against Zenit St. Petersburg without him, Reus has taken his game up a level as the season run-in approaches. He scored on his comeback in a brief appearance against Hannover 96 before playing superbly over the full distance in the derby against Schalke. That was followed up by his swashbuckling antics in Stuttgart.
Reus has become something of a lifesaver for Dortmund, especially in the Champions League, where players who can make the difference at the highest level are vital. There are not too many of that ilk left in Dortmund.
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Lewandowski suspended
Mario Götze, who linked up well with his close friend Reus and was one of the key figures in the club’s recent meetings with Real, is now at Bayern Munich, while midfielder Ilkay Gündogan has almost been forgotten. Neither Ivan Perisic or a prematurely-departed team bus were involved this time; rather the midfield schemer has been sidelined with a persistent injury that looks set to rob him of the entire season. On top of that, Robert Lewandowski, the four-goal hero from last year’s semi-final meeting with Real Madrid, will be absent at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu through suspension. In terms of creative talent, that just leaves Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Reus.
"Marco is among the best players in Germany," said Reus’ Dortmund and Germany international colleague Mats Hummels after the victory in Stuttgart. "He’s world class." Reus has repeatedly demonstrated that he knows precisely where the goal is, even on Real Madrid’s turf, where he fired Dortmund in front in the group stages last season before a Mesut Özil wondergoal denied the visitors victory. The Spaniards are unlikely to be caught off guard this time as Dortmund are now very much a part of the established European elite.
Real warm-up in style
Furthermore, Cristiano Ronaldo and Co have evidently overcome the minor wobble they suffered last week. Real’s 31-game unbeaten streak came to an end with a 4-3 defeat in the Clasico at home to FC Barcelona and the side then lost a second successive game for the first time in five years with a surprise 2-1 reverse away to FC Sevilla. However, Real bounced back in style on Saturday with a 5-0 thumping of city rivals Rayo Vallecano. Ronaldo inevitably got his name on the scoresheet, alongside Gareth Bale, who scored twice, as well as Daniel Carvajal and Alvaro Morata.
Nevertheless, Michael Schulz, one of Dortmund’s battle-hardened warriors of yesteryear, believes his former club have every chance of success in the Spanish capital. "Real won’t have forgotten about last year’s matches," said the erstwhile defender, who was part of the Dortmund team that beat Auxerre in the European Cup semi-finals in 1992/93. "Their subconscious will suddenly pop up and say 'hello, I’m here'. Dortmund always have a chance, irrespective of the opponent. That goes for Real Madrid too." With Marco Reus on board, the odds are a whole lot better.
