Dortmund and Madrid back for more

Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid CF have become familiar rivals of late. They clashed four times in the first 20 editions of the UEFA Champions League, but have been inseparable since: the 2013/14 quarter-final tie will take their tally to six meetings in 18 months. We recall last season's encounters when drama, excitement and home comforts (this fixture has never produced an away win) were a common theme.

24/10/2012: Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Real Madrid CF
Dortmund leapfrogged their opponents at the Group D summit with a thrilling victory. An enthralling match became all the more intriguing when Robert Lewandowski fired Jürgen Klopp's side in front on 36 minutes, only for Cristiano Ronaldo to swiftly equalise. As a breathless game unfolded after the break, Marcel Schmelzer executed a left-foot volley just past the hour to earn the points. "The stuff dreams are made of," Klopp said of downing the nine-time champions.

06/11/2012: Real Madrid CF 2-2 Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund appeared on course for a famous Santiago Bernabéu success after a fearless display had yielded a 2-1 interval lead – Marco Reus's strike and an Álvaro Arbeloa own goal coming either side of a Pepe header. With a minute to go, however, Mesut Özil's set piece outwitted goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller who allowed the ball to bounce in at his left-hand post. "Of course it's a shame to concede that goal in the later stages of the game, but overall it was a lot of fun," concluded Klopp.

24/04/2013: Borussia Dortmund 4-1 Real Madrid CF
Lewandowski became the first player to score four goals in a UEFA Champions League semi-final match as Dortmund overwhelmed Madrid in the first leg of their first last-four appearance since losing to the Merengues in 1997/98. The Bundesliga team dominated from start to finish and though Ronaldo's 50th goal in the competition cancelled out their early advantage, Lewandowski registered a further three times in a devastating second-half show. "That was pure football, my players were unstoppable," said Klopp.

30/04/2013: Real Madrid CF 2-0 Borussia Dortmund
Madrid boss José Mourinho did not surrender there, demanding his charges give their all "until the last breath" in the second leg. They obeyed. For 82 minutes his side toiled to no avail, until Karim Benzema's goal offered them a lifeline; another from Sergio Ramos soon after set up a frenetic climax amid chants of "Sí se puede" (You can do it) from the home support. They could not, although Dortmund had been beaten for the first time in their campaign. The following month, against FC Bayern München at Wembley, they lost again.