This is what the Champions League should be about. After much criticism of the new format this season, it’s a pleasure to see last season’s finalists reunite for a rematch. Real Madrid won the match at Wembley in June 2-0, but Borussia Dortmund were excellent for a long time.

Madrid seems to have the Midas feeling when it comes to this particular competition. That said, the last time the home side were in European action they suffered a shock defeat to Lille, so perhaps the magic is starting to wear off. Madrid bounced back from that loss with a pair of domestic wins that appear to have steadied the ship and currently sit second in the La Liga table, just three points behind rivals Barcelona.

For the visitors, the Champions League is where they have delivered their best performances so far this season, with a 3-0 win over Club Brugge and a 7-1 defeat to Celtic. However, consistency is difficult to achieve in the league and Dortmund are in seventh place after seven games. They have lost their last two away games in the league and only just managed to get past St. Pauli this weekend.

Both sides will be missing key figures in perhaps the most eagerly anticipated of all midweek clashes. Carlo Ancelotti will have to do without the services of David Alaba, Dani Carvajal, Dani Ceballos and Brahim Diaz. The German side have sidelined Karim Adeyemi, Gio Reyna and Julien Duranville, while Yan Couto is also a major doubt.

Madrid’s 17-month unbeaten run in the Champions League may now be over, but their fans can take comfort in the fact that they have still not been defeated in the home league since April 2022. Somewhat surprisingly, they did. failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five European games at the Bernabeu.

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Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund odds

BetFair odds have been updated as of 10pm BST on Monday.

• Madrid wins: 2/5
• To draw: 4/1
• Dortmund victory: 11/2

Location: Santiago Bernabeu-Madrid
Time: 8pm BST (3pm ET), Tuesday
Streaming: Fubo (US only, free trial)

Form guide (all competitions)

Real Madrid: WWLDW
Dortmund: WLWWL

Match prediction

Real Madrid 3-1 Dortmund

Dortmund’s record at the Bernabeu is second. In seven trips to the ground, the German team has lost five and drawn the other two. No team has ever managed to win in their first eight trips to the pitch of a Champions League opponent, but Madrid will certainly look to bounce back from their defeat last time out in this competition. Expect Dortmund to come away with that unwanted record and Madrid to record a comfortable win.

(Photo by Vinicius Junior: Florencia Tan Jun / Getty Images)