• Borussia Dortmund 4-1 Real Madrid, Champions League

Four-midable Dortmund follow Bayern's lead

ESPN staff
April 24, 2013
Robert Lewandowski was in sparkling form for Borussia Dortmund © Getty Images
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Robert Lewandowski inspired Borussia Dortmund to an impressive 4-1 victory over Real Madrid on Wednesday, raising the very real prospect of an all-German Champions League final at Wembley.

Twenty-four hours after Bayern Munich stunned Barcelona with a 4-0 demolition in their semi-final, Dortmund put on a similar display - with Lewandowski getting all four goals as Cristiano Ronaldo's early equaliser at least ensured Real will return to Spain with more hope of overturning the deficit than their great Spanish rivals.

Dortmund got off to the perfect start, Lewandowski prodding home from a beautiful inswinging cross after just eight minutes. But Real got on level terms shortly before half-time - Cristiano Ronaldo sweeping home a simple chance after a terrible error from Mats Hummels to change the face of the contest.

But Lewandowski would not be denied. The Pole restored the home side's lead with a clever finish - although there were hints of offside in the build-up - before completing his hat-trick with a sumptuous individual strike, turning on a six-pence before rifling a drive into the roof of the net.

Then came the cherry on top - Lewandowski getting his fourth from the penalty spot after Xabi Alonso had been guilty of a clumsy challenge.

Real came on strong in the closing stages, no doubt aware that a second away goal would greatly increase their hopes of a comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Roman Weidenfeller would not be beaten, as a German club enjoyed its second successive special result against Spanish opposition.

After a build-up dominated by the announcement that Mario Gotze will depart Dortmund for Bayern in the summer, his current side made a blistering start.

Raphael Varane cleared Marcel Schmelzer's early cross but Dortmund soon had a clear opportunity.

Marco Reus, of whom even more will be expected once Gotze departs, isolated Varane and surged through the visiting defence. His shot was parried by Diego Lopez and Lewandowski, reluctant to over-stretch, failed to tuck away the loose ball.

The goal arrived in the eighth minute, though, Gotze swinging in a superb cross from the left for Lewandowski, this time reaching out a long right leg after losing his marker Pepe, to sidefoot home.

Real began to establish themselves in the game as the tempo settled down, and a 30-yard free-kick provided their first sight of goal. Ronaldo's dipping effort was beaten away by keeper Roman Weidenfeller.

Lewandowski ended up with all four goals © Getty Images
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Another wonderful run by Reus was broken up on the edge of the box and Fabio Coentrao's interception then halted a lightning break.

Jakub Blaszczykowski caused problems with a surge into the Real penalty area, past Coentrao, but Gonzalo Higuain had tracked him all the way back and the striker made a superb challenge as the last man.

And having excelled defensively, Higuain then played his part at the other end as he seized on Mats Hummels' poor back-pass and squared for Ronaldo to slot the ball home.

That left the scores level at the break but Lewandowski restored his side's lead five minutes after the restart.

With Real appealing for offside as Reus' pass found the Pole he kept his head, turned quickly on the ball and poked low past Diego Lopez.

And it was soon 3-1 as Schmelzer's mishit shot deflected to Lewandowski, who brilliantly dragged the ball back away from Pepe and fired it into the top corner.

Lopez had to be at his best to keep Real in the game when Ilkay Gundogan drove through the defence and punched a rising effort at goal, which the keeper tipped over the bar.

And dominant Dortmund were then awarded a penalty for Xabi Alonso's blatant shove in the back of Reus. Lewandowski slammed the penalty straight down the middle to make it 4-1.

The striker put a slight blot on his copybook with a booking for blocking Sergio Ramos but soon threatened a fifth goal with a 25-yard curler pushed over by Lopez.

A tackle between Hummels and Ronaldo punctured the ball and meant a replacement was needed, and Weidenfeller was injured in another challenge with the Portugal international.

Four added minutes passed with Varane's shot, which flashed narrowly wide, the only sight of goal.

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