Vinicius Junior scored a stunning hat-trick as Champions League holders Real Madrid rallied from two goals down to defeat Borussia Dortmund 5-2 on Tuesday.
Following a surprising defeat at Lille in their previous European encounter, Madrid destroyed Dortmund in a rematch of last season’s final with a magnificent second-half performance.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team won a record-extending 15th Champions League title at Wembley Stadium, but battled in the first half against the Bundesliga side, which led 2-0 thanks to Donyell Malen and Jamie Gittens.
However, Antonio Rudiger and Vinicius leveled Madrid with two goals in two minutes, and Lucas Vazquez scored the third after 83 minutes.
Vinicius scored a magnificent solo goal for Madrid’s fourth and hammered home the fifth as Los Blancos spoiled Dortmund’s perfect start to the competition with another comeback to add to their impressive collection in Europe.
“We know that when we are at home, with our fans, anything can happen,” Vinicius told Movistar.
“We went in (at half-time) very quiet and just listened to the coach, we said just one thing.
“If we scored the first, we would come back once again, and we made another comeback, thanks to the fans and the whole team who gave everything.”
Madrid coach Ancelotti inserted Rodrygo into the attack with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius, returning to a 4-3-3 system following a brief trial with three at the back in Saturday’s narrow La Liga victory against Celta Vigo.
Madrid has battled to achieve balance and consistency this season, following the departure of midfield maestro Toni Kroos and the attempts to integrate Mbappe into the club.
The visitors frustrated them for the first half hour of the game, as they were unable to produce clear cut openings before the game exploded open.
Malen opened the goal with a neat finish after Julian Brandt won the ball back on the edge of the box and Serhou Guirassy threaded a pass through a tight space to the Dutch winger.
Four minutes later, Malen created the second goal, escaping Ferland Mendy and crossing for Gittens to finish happily.
Madrid replied by tearing apart Dortmund before the interval, but failed to create a deadly finish.
Bellingham, who hasn’t scored in ten games this season, headed straight at Gregor Kobel after receiving a scooped pass into the area.
The England player, facing his former club, then hit the crossbar from close range on the rebound after teammate Rodrygo had also hit the woodwork, leaving Madrid fans stunned that they had not scored.
Before the break, Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced a superb save to deny Brandt a shot from outside the box.
‘We’ll fight for everything’
The hosts increased the screw in the second half, with Kobel save superbly at the near post from Lucas Vazquez but failing to stop Rudiger’s powerful header from Mbappe’s cross after an hour.
Two minutes later, Madrid equalized when Mbappe was tackled in the box, but the ball fell invitingly for Vinicius to score with ease.
Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin, a former Madrid player, rested goalscorers Gitten and Malen, but his club was unable to keep the hungry hosts at bay.
Vazquez sealed Madrid’s comeback after Rodrygo did brilliantly to keep the ball in play, and Vinicius shone with his wonderful fourth.
The Brazilian, who is anticipated to win his first Ballon d’Or on Monday in Paris, moved the ball forward unassisted and struck a dangerous low finish.
Vinicius then added a fifth by rushing into the area and shooting past Kobel, giving a warning to La Liga leaders Barcelona, who visit the Bernabeu on Saturday in La Liga.
“We’ll go for it, in our stadium, with our fans, and we will fight for everything this season like always,” added Vinicius.