Champions League previews: Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid

Borussia Dortmund manager Jürgen Klopp

Jürgen Klopp might never have a better opportunity to defeat Real Madrid and their coach José Mourinho.

The Spanish champions, who continue their quest for that elusive tenth European Cup, may have won their first two Group D matches against Manchester City and Ajax, but travel to Borussia Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park with a long-list of defensive absentees.

All three of Real Madrid’s recognised full-backs - Alvaro Arbeloa, Fabio Coentrão and Marcelo – are out nursing injuries of varying severity, which is hardly ideal before a crunch Champions League tie against the reigning German champions, who are renowned for their ability to exploit the flanks.

Sure, they got away with playing midfield enforcer Michael Essien and centre-back Sergio Ramos in the full-back positions against Celta Vigo in the Primera Liga at the weekend, but Dortmund’s wingers are capable of making even the best full-backs look foolish – let alone makeshift ones.

Fortunately for Real Madrid, Poland international Jakub Blaszczykowski is still not fit enough to play, but Kevin Grosskreutz can certainly pose a threat from the wide areas.

In order to defeat the mighty Los Blancos, though, Borussia Dortmund must find a way to stifle Cristiano Ronaldo. It will take more than a gashed knee to keep the world’s most expensive player, who already has four Champions League goals to his name this season, off the pitch on Wednesday.

Also, it remains to be seen how Dortmund respond after losing 2-1 to bitter local rivals Schalke at the weekend.

Klopp’s men already have four Champions League points on the board – the same tally they recorded from six group matches last season – but beating Real Madrid really would be a statement of intent.

In Group B, surprise-package Malaga look to maintain their perfect start with a home win over AC Milan, whose coach Massimiliano Allegri is perilously close to losing his job after an awful couple of months.

The 45-year-old former midfielder is thought to be one defeat away from the sack, and might have gone earlier this month had the Rossoneri failed to beat Zenit away in Saint Petersburg. After taking an early 2-0 lead, the Russian outfit fought back to pull level, only to lose the match in the closing stages when Tomáš Hubočan turned the ball into his own net.

That result left Milan second in Group C on four points, ahead of Anderlecht and Zenit who meet at the Petrovsky Stadium.

Porto can move a huge step closer to cementing their place in the last 16 by beating Dynamo Kiev at the Estádio do Dragão. The Portuguese champions are currently top of Group A with six points, which is three more than Dynamo Kiev and Paris Saint-Germain, who travel to Croatia to take on bottom-side Dinamo Zagreb.

And in Group B, while Arsenal take on Schalke, Montpellier and Olympiacos face-off at the Stade de la Mosson.

Rob Swan - follow me on Twitter

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