Real Madrid: The Comeback Kings Reign Once More

The Santiago Bernabeu's south goal saw a banner reading, "Our crown, our trophy," raised by fans before kickoff, as Real Madrid prepared to take on Borussia Dortmund. As the reigning European champions and 15-time UEFA Champions League winners, Madrid have earned their reputation as comeback kings. This particular victory was a 5-2 turnaround, making it into yet another of those thrilling matches befitting their legacy.

This Madrid team, an eclectic ensemble of football elite, often disappoints initially, as was the case against Dortmund. In the first half, they were lacking in defense, non-existent in midfield and hesitant in their attack. The tables turned in the second half and ignited the Bernabeu crowd, as the Madrid based team looked like an unstoppable force, with Vinícius Júnior leading the charge. His performance, which included a hat-trick, was a contender for his career-best and possibly Ballon d'Or-worthy.

The Champions League had always seen Madrid advance from the group stage in the old format. However, with the new phase kicking off, they were at risk of beginning with two losses in three games. The first half's performance seemed to confirm this trend, with Madrid going 2-0 down to Dortmund. 

Despite their inconsistent form, Madrid continued to win games and maintain their unbeaten status in LaLiga. Dortmund's coordinated, mass bouncing had roused the Bernabeu crowd, announcing the magnitude of this match, a repeat of last season's Wembley final. Dortmund's team provided plenty of reasons for the fans to celebrate, from Donyell Malen's opening goal to Jamie Bynoe-Gittens' second strike.

Madrid, however, didn't take long to react. Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham narrowly missed the goal and gave the team the spark they needed. Dortmund came close to extending their lead, but Madrid held on until they sprung back to life in the second half, leading to an impressive 5-2 victory.