Real Madrid 3-0 Borussia Dortmund - Five Talking Points

When the quarter final draw lined up Real Madrid against Dortmund, revenge was the word that resonated among the Bernabeu faithful. The loss in last year's semi finals was still fresh in the minds of the capitol's fans. Their expectations for Wednesday's match was for nothing more than a sweet victory over the Germans. As things kicked off, Madrid got into the game and inflicted the early blow. They constantly threatened the back four of Dortmund with a wave of attacks in the 1st half. Goals from Bale and Isco and a third goal from Ronaldo in the second half sealed a well deserved 3-0 victory for the Los Blancos. Dortmund came out stronger in the second half but the defence of Los Blancos was too adamant and kept their attacks at bay. As Madrid travel next week to the Signal Iduna Park with a comfortable lead, we take a look at 5 noticeable points from last night's game.

#1 Borussia Dortmund are a different side from last year

Last year, Borussia Dortmund were a revelation and a very difficult team to play against. The intensity with which they played the game was applauded by pundits and fans. The urge to get men behind the ball and press their opponents while quickly transforming their tempo to fourth gear and attack was quite magnificent. Perhaps what was stronger than their technicality was their mentality. The eagerness and hunger to succeed was really a major ingredient for them to be able to reach the finals.

But contenders of last season have become quite fragile as seen from their display at the Bernabeu. The organisation of the team was missing and they looked lost at times. Bale's early goal put them right on the back foot and Klopp's team did not pose a threat while going forward. While they were missing their target man Robert Lewandowski through suspension, Marco Reus and Pierre Aubameyang couldn't do much on the night. Their high pressing game didn't work out well as Madrid moved the ball around with ease.

#2 Gareth Bale proves his worth on the European stage

Since his high profile transfer from Tottenham Hotspur, Gareth Bale has always been under the pressure to deliver. The arrival of Neymar at Barcelona brought in an episode of comparison feuds after the never ending Cristiano vs Messi battle. Initially enduring some rough patches through injuries, Bale got into the flow of things and has scored 17 goals in all competitions and also leads the assists in La Liga.

And he continues to prove his worth on the European stage as his opener gave Madrid an early advantage. His excellent first touch to receive the pass from Carvajal and flick the ball into the net with his second produced the first goal of the match. Throughout the match, he was a constant threat down the right flank making powerful runs and cutting inside to create chances.

He was precise with his free kicks and made a superb solo run only to blast the shot over the goalkeeper's head. His presence along with Ronaldo has certainly doubled the threat going forward and has made them superior attacking from both sides of the pitch.

#3 Squad depth made the difference

Borussia Dortmund came into this match with seven key players out through injury. Their young midfield sensation Ilkay Gundogan who is well capable of pulling the strings has been out with a back problem since the beginning of the season. Defender Nevan Subotic suffered a ligament tear which keeps him out of action for rest of the season. The Duracell energy of Jakub Blaszczykowski was a vital aspect of this team but he too was missing following his season ending ligament tear. Their box to box midfielder Sven Bender and left back Marcel Schmelzer were recent additions to their list of injured stars.

As a result of these absentees, Dortmund suffered heavily. Their lack of squad depth has finally revealed their limitations to compete in all competitions. Wherein Madrid had two key players missing through injury and sickness, their immediate replacement were still world class in the form of Fabio Coentrao and Spanish wonderkid Isco which proved that bench strength is an important aspect in the long run of the game.

Ultimately it boils down to the money aspect and the different positions that clubs occupy with regards to the budget power and Dortmund certainly are not a strong one in that department.

#4 Carlo Ancelotti\'s formation has brought composure

Since taking over at Madrid, Ancelotti had a difficult job of mending a team that had been divided by conflicts in the dressing room. He also needed time to install a system and find a combination that would define Madrid's footballing style. Mourinho's counterattacking philosophy worked well against rivals Barcelona but it fell short against other teams where they had to find a way to penentrate the opposition.

After trying out several formations and players in various positions, Ancelotti installed a new life into Madrid's playing style with the 4-3-3 formation. Setting up a midfeld that comprises of a deep lying playmaker (Xabi Alonso), the ball carrier (Luka Modric) and the Duracell (Di Maria or Isco), the composure on the ball was quite evident in Wednesday's game as the ball was well controlled and used by the midfield.

The attack of BBC (Bale, Benzema and Cristiano) sits in front of the midfield and the flexibility to change their styles according to the required situation makes this Madrid side one of the major contenders for the title.

#5 Iker Casillas makes Madrid look like a clean sheet team

When Iker Casillas suffered an injury last season, Diego Lopez was brought in as a replacement from Sevilla. Lopez established himself as the number one choice for Mourinho and thus Casillas was left on the bench even after returning from injury. With Ancelotti's appointment, Casillas became the designated cup competitions Goalkeeper while Lopez still remained as the league starter.

While Diego Lopez has been absolutely brilliant producing high quality performances, Real Madrid looks more compact at the back when Casillas starts for them. The composure and leadership is the one aspect that Casillas brings to the team ahead of his compatriot.

Madrid's defensive performance against Barcelona and Sevilla looked shaky but on the European night it was commendable and the defensive duo of Sergio Ramos and Pepe had a solid appeal. After last night, it might be the time when the Italian manager needs to rethink his preference in goal following another clean sheet performance from his captain.