Real Madrid made it into the Champions League semi-final despite a defensive horror show against Borussia Dortmund, who so nearly came back from their first-leg 3-0 mauling.
With Cristiano Ronaldo not fit to start he was left pacing the touchline as Jurgen Klopp's side almost ended his Champions League campaign, laying siege to Madrid's goal with only Iker Casillas's brilliance to stop them from knocking the Carlo Ancelotti's team out.
Real Madrid had the chance to settle the tie as early as the 15th minute when Łukasz Piszczek gave away a penalty. The right back prepared for Fabio Coentrao's cross with both hands behind his back but then stuck out his left arm as he jumped to block the centre and left referee Damir Skomina with little option but to point to the spot.
Not enough: Marco Reus scored twice for Borussia Dortmund but they couldn't quite find a way past Real Madrid
Big moment: Roman Weidenfeller saves Angel Di Maria's penalty after the Argentine slipped
Reaction: Cristiano Ronaldo can't believe Di Maria's miss
Missed: Dortmund were left to rue a number of missed chances, including three from Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Enough: Gareth Bale celebrates going through at full-time
Dejection: Dortmund players react at the end of the game - Lukasz Piszczek and Mats Hummels have their head in their hands
Delight: Ronaldo leads Real Madrid celebrations from the bench
Real had started strongly but the miss seemed to invigorate Dortmund and Henrikh Mkhitaryan could have put them ahead on the night. Asier Illarramendi was muscled off the ball by Robert Lewandowski and when the ball ran to Marco Reus he played in Mkhitaryan who shot wide.
Madrid were suddenly flapping at the back and on 24 minutes awful defending from Pepe gifted Dortmund the first goal of the night. The defender headed back towards Casillas's goal allowing Reus to intercept and shot past the keeper.
Madrid were unable to stop the flow of Dortmund attacks down both flanks and nerves almost got the better of Pepe's central defensive partner Sergio Ramos.
Opener: Reus touches the ball past the onrushing Iker Casillas (above) and slots home for Dortmund's first (below)
Pouncing: Reus reacts first to make it 2-0 to the home side
He tangled with Robert Lewandowski inside
the box and although the free-kick went against the Pole it was Ramos
who was booked. The Spain defender had upset the referee with his
protests but he had also caught Lewandowski in the face in the fracas.
On the half hour Xabi Alonso joined Ramos in the book for a foul on the edge of the area on Reus and from the free-kick Casillas had to turn Mats Hummels' header away for a corner.
On 37 minutes came the second defensive howler this time from Illarramendi who mis-controlled in midfield allowing the ball to break to Lewandowski. His shot hit the post but when it came out to Reus he thundered into the roof of Casillas' net.
Klopp was now grinning from ear to ear as Ronaldo emerged from the bench to remonstrate with his team-mates. He could see his dream of reaching the Champions League final in his home country next month slipping away from him.
Nothing was going Madrid's way. Luka Modric tried to send Gareth Bale racing away down the right but the ball hit his heel and bounced back into Madrid's half for Dortmund to launch yet another attack.
On the half hour Xabi Alonso joined Ramos in the book for a foul on the edge of the area on Reus and from the free-kick Casillas had to turn Mats Hummels' header away for a corner.
On 37 minutes came the second defensive howler this time from Illarramendi who mis-controlled in midfield allowing the ball to break to Lewandowski. His shot hit the post but when it came out to Reus he thundered into the roof of Casillas' net.
Klopp was now grinning from ear to ear as Ronaldo emerged from the bench to remonstrate with his team-mates. He could see his dream of reaching the Champions League final in his home country next month slipping away from him.
Nothing was going Madrid's way. Luka Modric tried to send Gareth Bale racing away down the right but the ball hit his heel and bounced back into Madrid's half for Dortmund to launch yet another attack.
Wave: Beaten manager Jurgen Klopp acknowledges a raucous home support
Words: Bale and Weidenfeller have an argument after Bale claimed for a penalty
Pressure: Reus attempts to put unsettle Real Madrid midfielder Luca Modric
Ancelotti
took action at half time replacing Illarramendi with Isco and starting
the second half with an extra man in midfield. Bale had the first chance
of the second period drawing a save from Weidenfeller. Alonso then
risked a red card in a clash with Mkhitaryan but just pulled out of the
challenge in time.
Ronaldo sidelined with a knee problem but name among the substitutes was calmer now sipping from an energy drink just in case things went from bad to worse. Bale then wrestled his way between Hummels and Erik Durm but he was torn between finding Karim Benzema at the back post and shooting from the tight angle himself. In his cross-shot went harmlessly wide. Benzema then went through onto a Modric pass but the advancing Weidenfeller forced him wide and Hummels cleared.
Ronaldo's heart was back in his mouth on 65 minutes when Reus played Mkhitaryan through but he hit Casillas right hand upright with Madrid's defence scrambling back. This was a game Ancelotti's team needed to control from the first kick instead they had been dragged all over the rain-soaked Signal Iduna Park pitch and moments later Dani Carvajal became the third Madrid player to be booked.
Ronaldo sidelined with a knee problem but name among the substitutes was calmer now sipping from an energy drink just in case things went from bad to worse. Bale then wrestled his way between Hummels and Erik Durm but he was torn between finding Karim Benzema at the back post and shooting from the tight angle himself. In his cross-shot went harmlessly wide. Benzema then went through onto a Modric pass but the advancing Weidenfeller forced him wide and Hummels cleared.
Ronaldo's heart was back in his mouth on 65 minutes when Reus played Mkhitaryan through but he hit Casillas right hand upright with Madrid's defence scrambling back. This was a game Ancelotti's team needed to control from the first kick instead they had been dragged all over the rain-soaked Signal Iduna Park pitch and moments later Dani Carvajal became the third Madrid player to be booked.
Instruction: Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti speaks to his players
Arms out: Sergio Ramos pushes Robert Lewandowski away
Tripped: Xabi Alonso brings down Milos Jojic for a foul
Casillas then saved from Mkhitaryan and from Kevin Grosskretuz as Dortmund cavalry charges on Madrid's under-protected defence continued. Reus went down in the area with no Real defender anywhere near him and was booked for the dive.
Bale and Benzema combined in a rare Madrid attack and the Frenchman's shot was saved by Weidenfeller.
Bale was accused of diving in the last minute as he went down in the area but the referee waved away his appeals for a spot-kick and Dortmund players' appeal to book him.
It mattered not as the clock ran down on Dortmund's gallant attempt at becoming the first side to comeback from 3-0 down in a Champions League knockout against Real Madrid.
No-one looked happier at the end than Ronaldo who took to the field on the final whistle to congratulate his team-mates who had made into the semi-finals without him. But only just.
Foot in: Asier Illarramendi is tackled by Oliver Kirch
In control: Luka Modric dictates play in the centre of midfield
Attack: Welsh winger Gareth Bale drives past Milos Jojic
Up we go: Kevin Grosskreutz and Daniel Carvajal challenge for the aerial ball
On the run: Fabio Coentrao attacks Dortmund's Henrikh Mkhitaryan
In pain: Pepe deals with Marco Reus in his customary fashion
Keepsake: Cristiano Ronaldo, who was missing because of injury, takes a picture of the pitch before the game
Signature: Ronaldo signs merchandise for fans before kick-off
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