Vinícius inspires Real Madrid’s five-star fightback to floor Borussia Dortmund
“In this cup and in this place anything can happen,” Vinícius Júnior remarked, his voice barely rising above the chaos that followed yet another thrilling encounter. Real Madrid was at it again. Just 143 days since their last clash at Wembley, the Champions League finalists faced Borussia Dortmund once more, and the tension quickly escalated. Dortmund struck twice in a mere four minutes midway through the first half, becoming the quickest team to take a two-goal lead against Madrid in nearly 20 years. But true to their DNA, Real Madrid answered back with a relentless five-goal spree. “We went in at half-time shitting ourselves, but we listened to each other. We said if we get one, we’ll come back,” Vinícius admitted. And that’s exactly what happened.
Madrid found themselves in the dressing room at 2-0 down, with goals from Donyell Malen and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens giving Dortmund a well-deserved lead. A pre-match banner declared it Madrid’s crown and cup, as it always has been and always will be, but in those moments, it felt like it might just belong to Dortmund. Yet, history has a funny way of repeating itself, especially in this peculiar affair. Madrid typically emerges victorious, and tonight was no exception; their dazzling second-half display showcased their determination for yet another cherished trophy, one they consider their own.
In an astonishing turnaround, Madrid leveled the score from 2-0 down to 2-2 in just 103 seconds, with goals by Antonio Rüdiger and Vinícius. Lucas Vázquez then pushed them ahead with a strike just seven minutes from the end, mere moments after Thibaut Courtois had saved them from falling behind again. Vinícius completed the exhilarating comeback by netting his hat-trick, marking yet another chapter in the saga of a club that thrives on dramatic comebacks. The atmosphere erupted with chants of, “This is how Madrid win!” Remarkably, they are the only team in Champions League history to come back from a two-goal deficit to win by three.
That evening was electric; it all began with a moment of brilliance. Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy, an €18 million summer signing from Stuttgart, artfully directed a loose ball in the box, elegantly sweeping it past Rüdiger and Ferland Mendy to find Malen, who calmly opened the scoring against Courtois.
Where Dortmund had failed to find the net in London, they succeeded in Madrid, adding a second goal in the 36th minute. No team had stunned Madrid with such an early two-goal lead in 18 years. Once again, the goal was a work of art; Julian Brandt found Malen, who surged past Mendy to deliver a precise cross, allowing Gittens to head it in, leaving Vázquez helpless.
In other matches that night, Juventus faced a dramatic 1-0 defeat at the hands of Stuttgart, while Paris Saint-Germain managed a 1-1 draw against PSV Eindhoven, with Achraf Hakimi’s goal leveling the score after Noa Lang had opened for the visitors. Milan clinched a 3-1 victory against 10-man Club Brugge, with Tijjani Reijnders scoring twice, and Monaco overwhelmed Red Star Belgrade with a 5-1 triumph led by two goals from Takumi Minamino.
At just 20 years and 75 days old, Gittens made history as the youngest English player ever to score against Madrid. His expression captured the significance of the moment as he acknowledged Malen’s assistance, playfully blowing away the smoke from his finger guns. Éder Militão was left in disbelief, clenching his fists and pounding the turf. Meanwhile, whistles echoed from the Bernabéu in response.
Yet, as if Madrid needed to face some adversity to find their rhythm, they quickly intensified their efforts. A long pass by Vinícius set Jude Bellingham up for a header that went straight to Gregor Kobel, while Rodrygo’s volley struck the crossbar, bouncing dangerously close to the line. Dortmund seemingly dodged disaster as Brandt almost scored an own goal, only for Kobel to save the day. But Courtois was soon called into action, soaring to deny Brandt’s shot.
As the half ended with the sound of whistles, the atmosphere shifted upon their return, the roar of the crowd signaling a resurgence. The lifeless team from before now displayed aggression and urgency. Kobel was challenged repeatedly, as Vázquez and Vinícius tested the keeper. Despite a close call as Courtois denied Malen, Dortmund retreated deeper, a tactical decision by coach Nuri Sahin inviting renewed pressure.
Rüdiger crashed through the defense to score off Kylian Mbappé’s cross, igniting hope. In less than two minutes, Vinícius rolled a shot into an open net after a chaotic sequence, only for VAR to determine the goal was valid, resulting in even louder cheers. With just 20 minutes gone in the second half, Madrid had already taken ten shots and were just getting started; Dortmund, clearly rattled, wished they could regain control.
It appeared that Dortmund might have weathered the worst of the storm, even launching a brief counterattack led by Maximilian Beier that resulted in a save by Courtois. But in a flash, Vázquez powered down the pitch to score at the opposite end, sealing Madrid’s fate. With eight minutes left, it was clear: Madrid’s tenacity allows them to prevail when it matters most. They never back down.
