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real madrid; poor record in germany



(soccernet.espn.go.com)

Real Madrid have only won once in Germany, and that win came more than ten years ago. That stark statistic is what most concerns Jose Mourinho, ahead of Los Blancos’ Champions League visit to Borussia Dortmund tonight. You would be forgiven to think that The Special One would be vexed by injury concerns, with nary a first-choice defender to call on.


Dortmund also have been disappointing of late, and are finding a third consecutive Bundesliga title a very long shot, and so their form should not keep Real up at night. But even so, Real’s poor history in Germany and Dortmund’s undeniable talents have combined to give Mourinho something to think about.

Mourinho may have a word with his two German internationals, Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira, in preparation for tonight’s intriguing tie at Signal Iduna Park. And Khedira will tell him that Real will have to play as well, if not better, than they did in the second-half against Manchester City, if they are to break their duck in Germany. (soccerladuma.co.za)

Los Blancos have won just once in 23 previous competitive fixtures in Germany. That's 16 losses, six draws and just the one victory on German soil - and that came 12 years ago thanks to a 3-2 win at Bayer Leverkusen in 2000. That's a bad record for any side, but for a club such as Madrid, nine times European champions, it's a shocking one. Jose Mourinho and his men don't have to cast their minds back too far for the last loss in Germany, of course. It was one of only two losses in all competitive matches in the second half of last season and it was one that, in part, denied them a romantic Champions League final date with Mou's old club Chelsea and the crack at a tenth European crown. A 2-1 defeat in Munich against Bayern. As well as inflicting woe on Madrid in Bavaria, Bayern knocked Los Merengues out on penalties at the Bernabeu in the second leg. As if German teams having the upper hand on German soil wasn't enough. 

So Los Blancos travel to Dortmund on Wednesday night not only looking for three crucial points in Group D that would edge them closer to qualification for the knock-out stages, but to make sure that poor record just gets that little bit more meaningless. 

The task won't be an easy one, despite facing a Dortmund side that sit fourth in the Bundesliga and go into the game on the back of a weekend defeat. The steep banks of the Signal Iduna Park stadium will be intimidating for Los Blancos. Borussia has one of the best supports in Europe, let alone Germany, and they'll be well aware of the importance of Wednesday night's match, the illustrious visit of Europe's most successful team aside. They'll lift their team and they'll do their best to put Madrid off its stride. (soccernet.espn.go.com)

 

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