Real Madrid have bagged their second win out of the three UEFA Champions League qualifying round of matches last night as they crippled German Bundesliga giant, Borussia Dortmund.
The white angels of the Spanish La-Liga were tasked to face-off with Dortmund in the third round of the Champions League group stage games at their home grounds, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
In the third quarter of the first forty-five minutes, an assist by the center-forward of Borussia Dortmund, Guirassy for Malen to hit past Thibaut Courtois gave them the lead on the 30th minute. After four minute, the goal-scorer, Malen with a sublime pass to Gittens handed Dortmund a two goal lead over Real Madrid at the end of the first-half.
The initiation of the second experienced a totally style of play by the home side, Real Madrid, they began to show more sense of urgency, motioned the ball on the field more faster they did in the first half, and display more efficiency in Dortmund’s half by the attackers.
After fifteen minutes into the second half, Kylian Mbappe who had been very silent with his performance provided an assist to Antonio Rudiger to pull one back in their two goal deficit. After 62nd minute, an individual brilliance by Vinicius Junior gave his team the equalizer.
Delving in more, both manager initiated a change as the manager for Dortmund, issued his second substitution on the night, Malen made way for Pascal Gross on the 64th minute while Carlo Ancelotti the veteran midfielder, Modric out for Camavinga on the 71st minute. More substitution were initiated as Nimecha went off for Beier and Ryerson took to the bench for Emri Can.
Immediately after the numerous substitutions were completed, few minutes later, the right full-back of Real Madrid, Lucas Vasquez smashed the ball into the back of the net to hand of the lead baton to his team for the first time on the night.
Three minutes later after Real Madrid took the lead, that is, the eighty-third minute, Vinicius bagged a brace on the night as he finished off a superb strike to make provide his team with a comfortable two goal lead. In stoppage time, Vinicius registered his third goal on the night in another sumptuous individual brilliance to end the game, 5:2 score line.
Real Madrid are currently on six points in their three qualifying games played, having lost to Lille, Won against Stuttgart and Dortmund. However, they currently lie on the league table on the ninth position and Dortmund are 5th after loosing to Real Madrid due to the goal difference rule.
In the post-match interview granted by Real Madrid’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti with respective Vinicius being adjudged the man of the match and his thought on the performance, “Vinicius Jr will win the Ballon D’or, in my opinion. He will get the award. It’s not about tonight… it’s what he did last season. Tonight’s hat-trick can help his case for the next Ballon D’or.”
Plus, Lucas Vasquez in an interview after the game also claimed that, his team, Vinicius Jr’s performance last year is enough to secure him the ultimate Ballon D’or award which is set to take place in the next five days.
“I told Vini Jr that he is the Ballon D’or winner after every goal tonight. The second half of Vinicius should be shown to all children so they can see how football is played,” Vasquez said.
Vinicius Jr after displaying a man of the match performance plus a hat-trick in his post-match interview said, “I want to stay here (Real Madrid) forever. I love Real Madrid. We want to win the Champions League again.”