5 reasons why Borussia Dortmund will beat Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League

Facing record UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid will be no easy task for last season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund, but Nuri Şahin’s side have plenty of tools to take revenge and all three points.

bundesliga.com outlines five reasons why Dortmund can get the better of Los Blancos.

1) They’ve done it before

BVB have a reputation for making life difficult for Real Madrid in the Champions League, and they’ll be looking to do so again under the guidance of Nuri Şahin, who played for both clubs. In their 2012/13 campaign, Dortmund faced Madrid twice in the group stage and twice in the semi-finals, winning two games, drawing one, and losing just once. That loss came in the second leg of the semi-final after Dortmund had already secured a stunning 4-1 victory in the first leg, with all four goals coming from Robert Lewandowski.

The following season, Dortmund exited in the quarter-finals but still managed a 2-0 win at the Bernabeu before their departure. In the 2016/17 season, the two sides drew twice before Madrid won the next three encounters. Despite this, Dortmund have consistently shown an ability to challenge Madrid, both home and away, a pattern that Şahin will undoubtedly look to capitalise on against the most successful team in the competition’s history.

2) Goal-hungry Guirassy

In each of these previous successes against their Spanish counterparts, Dortmund have been led by a talismanic striker such as Lewandowski or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. This season, it’s Serhou Guirassy leading the line for Şahin’s men and he’s in fine form in both the Bundesliga and Champions League.

In the league, he has four goals in five games – having missed the first two weeks through injury – while he also has three in two games in the Champions League against Club Brugge and Celtic. One of his league strikes, a determined run and finish against former side VfB Stuttgart, showed Guirassy’s ability to score in hostile atmospheres independent of his team’s performance, a trait that will certainly help in their upcoming clash.

3) European form

While Dortmund have won four, drawn one and lost two in the Bundesliga so far in 2024/25, their Champions League form has been far more consistent. Their first two games have produced two wins and ten (!) goals, as a result of a 3-0 success against Club Brugge and a 7-1 triumph at home to Celtic. Real on the other hand have not looked as convincing in their opening two games of the competition.

A 3-1 win in their campaign opener against Stuttgart papers over the many problems Sebastian Hoeneß’s side caused them, while their second game against Lille resulted in a 1-0 loss in France. Guirassy and Co. will therefore be full of belief ahead of their tie, with an upset more than possible given Dortmund’s momentum.

4) Gittens the emerging star

The young Jamie Gittens has been a shining light for Dortmund this season, thrilling fans with his direct dribbling and flair for spectacular solo goals. Gittens burst onto the Champions League stage by scoring twice against Brugge, getting his campaign off to a flying start, and followed it up with an assist in his team’s 7-1 rout over Celtic. In the Bundesliga, he has also made an impact with two goals and two assists, with both goals coming on Matchday 1 against Frankfurt.

In a tightly contested match where possession was hard to come by, Gittens was introduced at the hour mark and immediately made a difference. He first put Dortmund ahead with a stunning top-corner strike past Kevin Trapp, then sealed the victory with a brilliant solo effort that began deep in his own half. Gittens’ knack for game-changing moments could prove decisive in the Spanish capital.

5) Underdog mentality

Real Madrid’s history in the Champions League makes them a formidable opponent at any time, regardless of their opposition’s stature. Defeat in their previous continental outing against Lille will have provided extra motivation to get back on track with a victory against Dortmund, while they have shown just how dangerous they can be in full flow in the league.

However, Dortmund showed last season that they are capable of winning in the Champions League irrespective of league form, and will surely relish the challenge of getting a measure of revenge on the holders for last season’s final defeat at Wembley.