Borussia Dortmund vs. Real Madrid: A Historical Rivalry

Introduction

Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid are two of the most storied clubs in European football history. Their rivalry is one of the most intense and passionate in the world, with both teams having a long history of success and a fiercely loyal fan base. The two sides have met 30 times in competitive matches over the years, with Real Madrid holding a slight edge in the overall record.

Early Meetings

The first meeting between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid took place in the 1963-64 European Cup quarter-finals. Real Madrid won the first leg 4-2 in Madrid, but Dortmund came back to win the second leg 2-1 at home. The tie went to a third leg, which Real Madrid won 2-1.

The two sides met again in the 1987-88 UEFA Cup quarter-finals. Dortmund won both legs, 2-0 in Madrid and 4-1 in Dortmund, to advance to the semi-finals.

Champions League Era

Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid have met seven times in the Champions League era, with Real Madrid winning five of those meetings. The most famous meeting between the two sides came in the 1998-99 Champions League semi-finals. Dortmund won the first leg 1-0 at home, but Real Madrid came back to win the second leg 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

The two sides met again in the 2012-13 Champions League group stage. Dortmund won the first leg 2-1 at home, but Real Madrid won the second leg 3-0 at the Bernabeu.

Recent Meetings

Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid have met twice in recent years. The first meeting came in the 2017-18 Champions League quarter-finals. Real Madrid won the first leg 3-0 at the Bernabeu, and the second leg 2-1 at the Westfalenstadion.

The two sides met again in the 2019-20 Champions League Round of 16. Real Madrid won the first leg 2-1 at the Bernabeu, but Dortmund won the second leg 2-0 at the Westfalenstadion. Real Madrid advanced to the quarter-finals on away goals.

Head-to-Head Record

Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid have met 30 times in competitive matches. Real Madrid has won 16 of those meetings, Dortmund has won 7, and 7 have ended in draws.

Notable Matches

Here are some of the most notable matches between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid:

• 1963-64 European Cup quarter-finals: Dortmund won the first leg 2-1 at home, but Real Madrid won the second leg 4-2 in Madrid. The tie went to a third leg, which Real Madrid won 2-1.
• 1987-88 UEFA Cup quarter-finals: Dortmund won both legs, 2-0 in Madrid and 4-1 in Dortmund, to advance to the semi-finals.
• 1998-99 Champions League semi-finals: Dortmund won the first leg 1-0 at home, but Real Madrid came back to win the second leg 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
• 2012-13 Champions League group stage: Dortmund won the first leg 2-1 at home, but Real Madrid won the second leg 3-0 at the Bernabeu.
• 2017-18 Champions League quarter-finals: Real Madrid won the first leg 3-0 at the Bernabeu, and the second leg 2-1 at the Westfalenstadion.
• 2019-20 Champions League Round of 16: Real Madrid won the first leg 2-1 at the Bernabeu, but Dortmund won the second leg 2-0 at the Westfalenstadion. Real Madrid advanced to the quarter-finals on away goals.

Conclusion

Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid are two of the most successful clubs in European football history. Their rivalry is one of the most intense and passionate in the world, and the two sides have a long history of producing memorable matches. With both teams continuing to be among the best in Europe, the rivalry between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid is sure to continue to produce exciting matches for years to come.

Tables

Table 1: Head-to-Head Record

Table 2: Notable Matches

Table 3: Top Scorers

Stories and What We Learn

Story 1: The Miracle of Madrid

The most famous meeting between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid came in the 1998-99 Champions League semi-finals. Dortmund won the first leg 1-0 at home, but Real Madrid came back to win the second leg 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The victory was a stunning upset, as Real Madrid was the defending champion and had won the previous two Champions League titles.

What we learn: Never give up, even when the odds are stacked against you. Borussia Dortmund was a significant underdog against Real Madrid, but they never gave up and almost pulled off a miraculous comeback.

Story 2: The Revenge Tour

In the 2012-13 Champions League group stage, Borussia Dortmund got their revenge on Real Madrid for the 1998-99 defeat. Dortmund won the first leg 2-1 at home, and then they went to the Bernabeu and beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the second leg. The victory was a statement of intent from Dortmund, who showed that they were now a force to be reckoned with in Europe.

What we learn: Never forget the past, but use it as motivation to succeed in the future. Borussia Dortmund used the memory of the 1998-99 defeat to motivate them to victory against Real Madrid in 2012-13.

Story 3: The Comeback Kids

In the 2019-20 Champions League Round of 16, Borussia Dortmund showed their resilience by coming back from a first-leg deficit to beat Real Madrid. Dortmund lost the first leg 2-1 at the Bernabeu, but they came back to win the second leg 2-0 at the Westfalenstadion. The victory was a testament to Dortmund's character and determination.

What we learn: Never give up, even when you are down. Borussia Dortmund could have easily given up after losing the first leg, but they refused to throw in the towel and ultimately won the tie.

Tips and Tricks

• Be confident: Borussia Dortmund has a history of playing well against Real Madrid, so they should go into the match with confidence.
• Play to their strengths: Dortmund is a young team with a lot of pace and energy. They should use this to their advantage and try to attack Real Madrid at every opportunity.
• Don't be afraid to defend: Real Madrid is a very dangerous team going forward, so Dortmund needs to be solid in defense. They should stay compact and not give Real Madrid too much space to attack.
• Take their chances: Dortmund won't create many chances against Real Madrid, so they need to take the ones they do get. They need to be clinical in front of goal and not waste any opportunities.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Being too defensive: Dortmund needs to be