Real Madrid’s knack for Champions League success is undisputed, but their form in the current campaign has been shaky. After a solid 3-1 opening victory over Stuttgart, Carlo Ancelotti’s side stumbled on matchday two, suffering a shock 1-0 defeat to Lille, their first loss in Europe’s elite competition since May 2023.

While their remarkable 17-month unbeaten run in the Champions League may have come to an end, Real have not tasted defeat at home in the competition since April 2022. However, Ancelotti will be wary of his side’s defensive frailties – they've failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five European fixtures at the Bernabéu.

Dortmund, meanwhile, have come out firing in this season’s Champions League, recording two emphatic wins. After thrashing Celtic 7-1, with Karim Adeyemi bagging a hat-trick, and cruising to a 3-0 win over Club Brugge, Nuri Sahin’s men currently top the table on goal difference.

Dortmund have the talent to cause problems for any side but will need to shed their recent inconsistency on the road if they are to avoid setting an unwanted record of three consecutive away losses in Europe.

Real Madrid⚪️: Courtois; Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Bellingham, Tchouameni, Valverde; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.

Borussia Dortmund🟡: Kobel; Ryerson, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Can, Sabitzer; Malen, Brandt, Gittens; Guirassy.