Champions League: Real Madrid Are All But Through to Semifinals, Borussia Dortmund Should Join Them
By Ty Duffy
Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Malaga: The Germans did not get an away goal, though they will still feel confident of advancing at home. They were the better team in Spain, but failed to convert blatant scoring chances (Mario Götze was especially at fault). Malaga’s defense should be vulnerable with Weligton and holding midfielder Manuel Iturra out due to suspension. That said, a scoring draw would eliminate them. A single brain fart could prove costly.
Galatasary 0-3 Real Madrid This one is over. Had the first leg been at home, Galatasaray could have ground out a result and put pressure on Madrid heading into the second leg. Instead, the first leg was in Madrid. They got beat badly. If Real scores one goal, the Turkish club must score five. That will be especially difficult without striker Burak Yilmaz who has eight goals in the Champions League this season.
Both Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso picked up late yellow cards in the first leg, earning themselves suspensions for accumulated yellow cards in the second. There’s ample speculation the two picked up the cards intentionally. Missing this redundant second leg allows them a fresh slate for the semifinal. The pair also did the same thing under Mourinho in 2010.
[Photo via Getty]