Champions League
BVB travels to Madrid for their final revenge without anticipation
Two players as a symbol of the black and yellow state of mind: While the offensive around Jamie Gittens (above) always inspires BVB fans, the shaky defense around Emre Can doesn’t provide much of a Champions League feeling
© kolbert-press / Imago Images
They already had one hand on the pot – and then lost the Champions League final against Real Madrid. Is now time for revenge?
The gray clouds and drizzle matched the subdued mood. While the Real professionals in the Spanish capital were getting ready for the new edition of the last Champions League final on Tuesday (9 p.m./Amazon Prime) under blue skies and summer temperatures, Borussia Dortmund completed the final training session at home in uncomfortable weather.
Unlike usual, the final session did not take place in the opponent’s stadium, but on the team’s own training ground before heading to the airport. Coach Nuri Sahin denied speculation that BVB wanted to exclude spies: “We will have a lot of away games in the near future and travel a lot. That’s why we wanted to spend as much time as possible at home.”
There is little sign of anticipation at BVB for the Champions League game against Real
However, there can be no talk of carefree anticipation at Borussia Dortmund for the new edition of the last Champions League final against Real Madrid. Although BVB travels to the defending champions as league leaders in the premier class, their worries prevail. The sobering away results so far and the tense personnel situation are depressing the mood.
Despite the unfavorable omens, Sebastian Kehl hopes that the team will show a different face on Tuesday than in their recent dreary appearances in the domestic league. “I definitely don’t see us without a chance. We showed that in the final a few weeks ago,” said the sports director, referring to the long open final (0-2) at Wembley at the beginning of June.
The special atmosphere in the Bernabeu football temple is intended to bring Borussia back to life. “Real is the biggest club in the world. We have already fought big battles there,” said Kehl. “I believe that the team will approach the task with total commitment.”
Furious start – but real will be the first real test
Two comfortable victories in Bruges (3:0) and against Celtic Glasgow (7:1) gave the Bundesliga seventh place the first place in the table. But only in a duel with world stars Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Junior will it become clear how meaningful this snapshot really is. “You just have to enjoy this game,” recommended national player Waldemar Anton, “if we push ourselves to our limits, we can play a good game.”
However, if Borussia presents itself as anemic against the Champions League record winners as in the previous unsuccessful Bundesliga away games in Bremen (0:0), Stuttgart (1:5) and at Union Berlin (1:2), there is a risk of a rude awakening .
In mid-September, VfB Stuttgart showed how successful coach Carlo Ancelotti’s star ensemble from the Spanish capital can be cracked. The Swabians were close to winning a point for a long time, but in the end they were undeservedly defeated 1:3. Kehl hopes for a similarly courageous performance from Borussia – but with a happy ending: “We will have our chances. Stuttgart has shown that. The Spaniards offer opportunities and space.”
Sahin’s return to his old place of work
As a former Real professional (2011 to 2012), football teacher Sahin knows only too well what power the “Royals” can develop at home. In order to be well prepared, he said he had already watched “one or two Real games” on video during the last international break. However, the 36-year-old is more worried about the personnel situation in his own team than the Spaniards’ combination skills. “We only have a few players at the moment,” complained Sahin.
Attackers Karim Adeyemi, Julien Duranville and Giovanni Reyna are missing, as is right-back Yan Couto. In addition, the use of pace setter Pascal Groß and defensive veteran Niklas Süle is uncertain. Groß had to be substituted at half-time in the difficult 2-1 win against St. Pauli on the advice of doctors. After a stubborn gastrointestinal virus, Süle is still not fully resilient. According to Sahin, both are well on the way to their old fitness. And regular goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who was missing from the final training session due to an upset stomach, is also on the mend.
Regardless of the personnel concerns, Sahin is looking forward to returning to Madrid: “It means a lot to me. It was always my dream to play for Real. My son was born here. It’s a pleasure to come back here.”
It could be an advantage for Borussia that the second-placed team in the Spanish league is under more pressure. After the surprising 0-1 loss on the second matchday in Lille, a home win is a must for the co-favorites for the title.
