On April 24, 2013, Borussia Dortmund hosted Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals at Signal Iduna Park. The match is remembered for a stunning performance by Dortmund, particularly by Robert Lewandowski, who scored all four goals for the home side. Dortmund emerged with a 4-1 victory, putting them in a commanding position for the second leg.
Match Overview
Final Score:
- Borussia Dortmund 4 – 1 Real Madrid
Venue: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund
Attendance: 65,829
Referee: Björn Kuipers (Netherlands)
Key Match Events
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8′ | Goal: Robert Lewandowski (Dortmund) – Assisted by Götze |
| 41′ | Goal: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) – Assisted by Higuaín |
| 50′ | Goal: Robert Lewandowski (Dortmund) – Assisted by Reus |
| 55′ | Goal: Robert Lewandowski (Dortmund) – Solo effort |
| 66′ | Goal: Robert Lewandowski (Dortmund) – Penalty |
Player Performances
Borussia Dortmund
| Player | Position | Minutes Played | Goals | Assists | Shots | Pass Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weidenfeller | GK | 90 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Piszczek | DF | 90 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 85% |
| Subotić | DF | 90 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 80% |
| Hummels | DF | 90 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 83% |
| Schmelzer | DF | 90 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 79% |
| Bender | MF | 90 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 84% |
| Gündoğan | MF | 90 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 87% |
| Blaszczykowski | MF | 82 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 75% |
| Götze | MF | 90 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 85% |
| Reus | MF | 90 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 81% |
| Lewandowski | FW | 90 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 82% |
Real Madrid
| Player | Position | Minutes Played | Goals | Assists | Shots | Pass Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diego López | GK | 90 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Ramos | DF | 90 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 82% |
| Varane | DF | 90 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 84% |
| Pepe | DF | 90 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78% |
| Coentrão | DF | 90 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 81% |
| Khedira | MF | 90 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 86% |
| Alonso | MF | 90 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 88% |
| Di María | MF | 68 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 80% |
| Özil | MF | 90 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 83% |
| Ronaldo | FW | 90 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 75% |
| Higuaín | FW | 90 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 78% |
Tactical Analysis
Borussia Dortmund’s Strategy:
Dortmund, managed by Jürgen Klopp, played a high-pressing 4-2-3-1 formation. The strategy focused on quick transitions and exploiting the wide areas. Lewandowski’s clinical finishing and the creative play from midfielders Götze and Reus were pivotal. Dortmund’s pressing stifled Real Madrid’s midfield, forcing errors and creating opportunities for counter-attacks.
Real Madrid’s Approach:
Real Madrid, under José Mourinho, fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation as well. They aimed to control the game with possession, relying on the attacking prowess of Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Özil. However, Madrid struggled with defensive lapses and could not cope with Dortmund’s relentless pressing and quick counters. Their midfield was often bypassed, leaving the defense exposed.
Key Statistics
| Statistic | Borussia Dortmund | Real Madrid |
|---|---|---|
| Possession (%) | 41 | 59 |
| Shots on Target | 10 | 5 |
| Total Shots | 14 | 12 |
| Corners | 3 | 4 |
| Fouls | 13 | 15 |
| Offsides | 2 | 3 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 3 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Pass Accuracy (%) | 82 | 85 |
| Saves | 4 | 6 |
Post-Match Reaction
Jürgen Klopp praised his team’s performance, particularly highlighting Lewandowski’s exceptional finishing and the collective effort in pressing and counter-attacking. Mourinho admitted that his team was outplayed and emphasized the need for a much better performance in the return leg to overturn the deficit.
Summary
This match is etched in Champions League history as one of the standout performances in a semi-final, demonstrating the effectiveness of Dortmund’s high-intensity play and the impact of a world-class striker in Robert Lewandowski. The 4-1 scoreline gave Dortmund a significant advantage heading into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.
For further details on the match, you can explore sources like UEFA and Sky Sports.
