Borussia Dortmund aim to ruin Cristiano's 150th European appearance when the German team face Real tonight
Real Madrid's star striker Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after missing a goal during the Spanish League match against Deportivo Alaves at Mendizorroza Stadium in Vitoria, Spain on Saturday. Pic/AFP
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Borussia Dortmund will aim to maintain their unbeaten record at home to Real Madrid in the Champions League tonight and spoil Cristiano Ronaldo's 150th European appearance. Dortmund and title holders Real meet in the group stage for the second year running.
The teams drew both games 2-2 last season as the Germans topped the section before bowing out in the last eight while Real went on to win a record 12th title. Dortmund have won three and drawn three of their meetings at Signal Iduna Park, including their dazzling 4-1 first-leg win in the 2013 Champions League semi-final when Robert Lewandowski scored all four goals. Defending champions Real opened their group campaign with a 3-0 win at home to APOEL while Dortmund suffered a 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur a fortnight ago. The Germans' main task will be containing four-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo, who has scored 110 goals in European competition but failed to find the net in his last two outings. The Portuguese superstar is among the final three nominees for the Best FIFA Men's Player 2017 award.
Real traditionally have a terrible record in Germany with 19 defeats, seven draws and only five wins. However, four of those victories have come in their last seven visits and they enjoyed a 2-1 win at Bayern Munich in last season's quarter-finals. Madrid's run of scoring in 73 successive matches in all competitions ended when they lost 1-0 at home to Real Betis on 20 September. But they rebounded with a 2-1 win at Alaves on Saturday as Dani Ceballos scored his first goals for Madrid.
110 No. of goals Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in the Champions League
19 No. of defeats Real Madrid have suffered against German clubs in 31 matches with seven draws and only five wins