Real Madrid Loses 1-4 to Borussia Bortmund

Borussia Dortmund routed Real Madrid 4-1 Wednesday in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal, with Robert Lewandowski accounting for all four of the German club’s goals.

The Polish striker opened the scoring in the eighth minute of the contest at Westfalenstadion, booting the ball past Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez after receiving a perfectly placed cross from Mario Gotze.

Real Madrid bounced back, however, and got the equalizer a few minutes before halftime when Dortmund defenseman Mats Hummels’ blunder set up an easy goal by superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

But after the intermission, Lewandowski put the German club back on top, nudging the ball into the net in the 49th minute despite Real Madrid’s vehement appeal for an offsides call.

The Polish forward’s dream game then continued when he fired into the roof of the net in the 54th minute to give his side a two-goal cushion.

He would later tack on another insurance goal in minute 66, converting a penalty after teammate Marco Reus was run over from behind by midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Dortmund’s stunning victory over Real Madrid comes a day after another German side, Bayern Munich, pummeled Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of the other Champions League semifinal.

The Madrid club will need a mini-miracle on April 30 at the Bernabeu, while Barcelona, which will host Bayern on May 1, must come up with its best Houdini act of this year’s Champions League to advance to the final.

In the round of 16, Barça lost 2-0 to A.C. Milan in the first leg before storming back to take the second leg 4-0.

Published in Latino Daily News