Dortmund Defies the Odds, Humiliates Real Madrid at Bernabéu
Can the Bundesliga side claim revenge for last season's defeat in the final at Wembley?
A mere four months since Dortmund's agonizing 2-0 defeat to the Spanish giants at Wembley Stadium, the two sides meet again, with the German side likely to draw encouragement from their opponents' last UCL fixture.
While Dortmund hammered Celtic 7-1 at home on Matchday 2, Real Madrid crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat away to French team Lille. That result brought to an end Los Blancos' incredible run of 36 competitive matches unbeaten. Dortmund have been in indifferent form, but with the hosts likely to have one eye on their potentially crucial El Clasico clash with La Liga title rivals Barcelona on Saturday, there's scope for revenge being served for the Germans.
How to Watch the Match
Real Madrid take on Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, with kickoff set for 9 p.m. CEST local time in Spain, making it an 8 p.m. BST start in the UK, a 3 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. PT kickoff in the US and Canada, and a 6 a.m. AEDT start in Australia on Wednesday morning.
Below, we'll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the match as it happens, wherever you are in the world.
United States
Paramount Plus has two main subscription plans in the US: Essential for $8 per month and Premium for $13 per month. Both offer coverage of the Champions League.
The cheaper Essential option has ads for on-demand streaming and lacks live CBS feeds as well as the ability to download shows to watch offline later. Newcomers to the service can take advantage of a 30-day free trial, while students may qualify for a 25% discount.
Read our Paramount Plus review.
United Kingdom
Along with the shake-up of the Champions League format, the new season brings with it some changes to how to watch UCL games in the UK.
TNT Sports will continue to broadcast the majority of Champions League games, but Amazon Prime Video now has first pick for games on a Tuesday, with one per match week being shown exclusively live on the platform.
This match is set to be shown live on TNT Sports 2.
TNT Sports is offering the lions' share of Champions League matches exclusively live this season to viewers in the UK. You can access TNT Sports in a number of ways, including via Sky Q as a TV package, or direct streaming from its range of mobile and smart TV apps. It costs £31 either way and comes in a package that includes Discovery Plus' library of documentary content.
Canada
If you want to stream UCL games live in Canada, you'll need to subscribe to DAZN Canada. The service has exclusive broadcast rights to the Champions League this season.
A DAZN subscription currently costs CA$30 a month or CA$200 a year and will also give you access to Europa League and EFL Championship soccer, Six Nations rugby and WTA tennis.
As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, there's a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs.
Australia
Stan Sport will set you back AU$10 per month (on top of a AU$10 Stan subscription), but the streaming service is currently offering a seven-day free trial.
A subscription will also give you access to Europa League and Europa Conference League action, as well as international rugby and Formula E.
Using a VPN to Watch the Champions League
If you find yourself unable to view UCL matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the games -- that's where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it's also a great idea if you're traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you're able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors' Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you're streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It's normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you'll get three months free and save 49%. That's the equivalent of $6.67 a month with code SPECIALDEAL, which should be automatically applied.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
A Tale of Two Halves: Dortmund Dominates, Real Madrid Struggles
The first half saw a Dortmund side hungry for revenge and ready to dismantle the champions. Their dominant performance was a stark contrast to the hesitant Real Madrid, who seemed to be caught off guard by the Germans' intensity.
Dortmund's early pressure was relentless, and they were rewarded with a stunning goal in the 31st minute. Donyell Malen, who was a constant threat throughout the half, finished off a beautifully-constructed move with a clinical finish. The goal was a deserved reward for Dortmund's early dominance, and it seemed to shake Real Madrid out of their slumber.
However, just three minutes later, Dortmund doubled their lead through Jamie Gittens, who scored a brilliant goal to become the youngest Englishman ever to score a Champions League goal against Real Madrid. This was a dream first half for Dortmund, who were clearly playing with a sense of purpose and conviction. Real Madrid, on the other hand, were completely out of sorts and looked like a team that had never played together before.
Real Madrid’s Second Half Woes
The second half was a different story, as Real Madrid, urged on by a passionate home crowd, showed a more determined and aggressive attitude. However, Dortmund's defense stood strong, and the home side were unable to find a way back into the game.
Real Madrid's attack, which had been so prolific in recent seasons, was completely neutralized by the Dortmund defense. The Spaniards struggled to create any clear-cut chances, and when they did, Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel was on hand to make some crucial saves.
Dortmund’s Revenge is Served
The final whistle blew with the score at 2-0, sending the Dortmund fans into raptures. This was a comprehensive victory for the German side, and it served as a huge statement to the rest of Europe. They proved that they are still a force to be reckoned with and that they are not afraid to take on the best in the world.
Dortmund’s dominance in the first half, and their ability to hold off Real Madrid in the second half, were a testament to their tactical prowess and the quality of their players. This victory will go down as one of the biggest upsets of the Champions League season.
The Future is Uncertain
The match highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of both sides. Dortmund's pressing game and attacking prowess were impressive, while Real Madrid’s defense looked vulnerable, especially in the first half. It’s still too early to say if this result will have a long-lasting impact on both sides. However, one thing is for sure – this is a result that will be talked about for years to come.
