Borussia Dortmund squashed Real Madrid by 4-1 goals in Champions League semi-final, first-leg on Wednesday. Poland striker Robert Lewandowski netted all the four goals to strengthen the possibility of an all-German final at Wembley on 25th May.
Bayern Munich's hammering of Barcelona by 4-0 goals on Tuesday in the other semi-final was followed strictly by Borussia which ultimately led to their victory.
Both Borussia and Bayern were clinical as they floored Jose Mourinho's Real. They avoided defeat by a small margin which was their worst defeat in the competition i.e. AC Milan defeating them by 5-0 in the European Cup in the 1988/89 campaign.
Lewandowski became the first player to score four goals in a Champions League semi-final. He disclosed that they have taken only the first step, but of course they are happy. He is pleased with the four goals, but now they want to reach the final.
The Argentine star Lionel Messi was unsuccessful to shine for a subdued Barcelona team at Bayern after his return from a hamstring injury. Similarly, Real star Cristiano Ronaldo was fairly anonymous apart from scoring the visitors only goal. Real coach Jose Mourinho is a two-time winner of the trophy with Porto and Inter Milan. He conceded that Dortmund had been the better side but insisted that his side could make a remarkable comeback. Mourinho admitted that he has learnt that anything can happen in football. He predicted that it will be tough next week, but nothing is impossible and his footballers will attempt to exhibit that next Tuesday. Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp had pledged that his players would not be disturbed by the news that 20-year-old midfield star Mario Goetze was to join Bayern Munich next season and his prediction proved to be correct. Klopp referring to next Tuesday's return leg inMadrid insisted that they have to force themselves to stay focused. They still need to go toMadrid, which will be not at all easy.
The limelight of the night was stolen by Lewandowski who commenced the first goal. He then added a second-half hat-trick to put Dortmundon the verge of their second Champions League final having already won the 1997 title.
The Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos predicted that it will be very intricate in the return leg at home but they must stay confident and try to react. He added that when the draw for the semi-finals was made, a lot of people thought this would be easy for them, but this is a German team they are conversing about. They are a magnificent team.
The expected hostile reaction from the home fans towards Goetze never occurred and he assisted to give the hosts the perfect start. His floated shot from the left wing found Lewandowski unmarked at the back post to kick the ball home within just eight minutes. The goal revived Real into life and Ronaldo forced Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller into a diving save in 24 minutes. Referee Bjorn Kuipers won himself few fans among the Dortmund as he ignored their penalty appeal when Marco Reus was brought down in the area by Raphael Varane.
Real Madrid drew level almost instantly after that decision when Dortmund defender Mats Hummels' back pass was grabbed by Gonzalo Higuain. He drew Weidenfeller and squared for Ronaldo to usher his 11th goal in 10 European games.
The hosts enhanced the pace in the second half while Lewandowski seized his second with a clear finish on the turn to slot home Reus' pass and beat Lopez in 50 minutes. He kicked his third goal five minutes later when he latched onto Marcel Schmelzer's cross and then beat centre-back Pepe before striking his shot home. He claimed his fourth goal of the night when Reus was fouled in the area by Xabi Alonso after Goetze's through-ball. There was just one candidate when Kuipers pointed to the penalty spot in 66 minutes leaving the Dortmund fans in confusion.
Mourinho attempted to breathe some life into his team with two replacements as Karim Benzema came in for Higuain and Angel Di Maria replaced Luka Modric on the central midfield position. However it was Lopez's excellent diving save which denied Lewandowski his fifth moments later.
