Real Madrid want their "Decima" more than anything and see this as the perfect opportunity to take that monkey off their back, while Borussia Dortmund are dreaming of emulating the class of 1997.

Two teams with equal desires to reach that Champions League final at Wembley, and move ever closer to touching the iconic trophy and lift it over their heads, will face off over 180 minutes, starting with the first leg at the Westfalenstadion.

The Champions League semifinal between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid promises to be a cracker - Act II of this year's Champions League after the two teams met each other twice in the group stages.

Dortmund came away with the plaudits on that occasion, winning 2-1 at home, before drawing 2-2 at the Bernabeu, with Mesut Ozil salvaging a point for Real courtesy a late goal.

So, will that give Dortmund the psychological advantage going into the semifinal tie?

Don't bet on it. Because when it comes to the knockout stages, particularly the quarterfinals and the semis, the teams that struggled in the group stages - especially the big teams - transform completely.

You always know you just need to finish in the top two to qualify for the knockout rounds, and with the group stages taking course during the early and then crucial middle stages of the domestic league - where a title can be won or lost - sometimes teams do just enough to qualify.

Now, Real Madrid do not have the La Liga to worry about. Barcelona have as good as won the title. It is all about the Champions League and the "La Decima" the tenth European Cup.

Jose Mourinho was brought to the Bernabeu to break the monopoly of Barcelona in the league, which he did with a barnstorming win last year, and win that elusive tenth European Cup, which has been on the lips of every single Madrid fan since Zinedine Zidane and co. last won the Champions League in 2002.

Cristiano Ronaldo will be the cynosure and rightly so, with the Portuguese currently the leading scorer in this year's Champions League with 11 goals. Ronaldo has been in sparkling form throughout the season, and Jurgen Klopp will be keen to produce the same tactics employed in the group stages to nullify Ronaldo's threat.

Stop Xabi Alonso from spraying the passes, and you can stop the ball from getting to Ronaldo's feet, Klopp said. It worked quite well in their last two games, but there is a feeling that Jose Mourinho will have some kind of counter to that tactic up his sleeve.

Apart from Ronaldo, the likes of Angel Di Maria, Mesut Ozil, the man who was involved in all of Real's goals against Dortmund earlier in the season, and Gonzalo Higuain/Karim Benzema will need to put their hands up and be counted.

Dortmund, though, are equally capable going forward, if not better. In Mario Gotze and Marco Reus, they have the two most dynamic playmakers in Europe, while Robert Lewandowski is that deadly striker who only needs the sniff of a chance.

In Ilkay Gundogan, Klopp has found his very own version of Xabi Alonso, only a more mobile one at that with pretty much the same passing range, albeit with a little less experience.

This tie will be fast-paced and played at breathtaking speed, with quick counters and high-pressing very much the order of the day, and only time will tell whether it will be Mourinho or Klopp who will be considering a trip to Wembley at the end of 180 minutes.

Team News and Injuries: Dortmund have a pretty healthy squad, with Mats Hummels set to return to the starting lineup following his long layoff. Midfielder Sebastian Kehl, though, is a doubt through injury.

Real Madrid are sweating on the fitness of Luka Modric, after the playmaker picked up a thigh strain in the game against Real Betis at the weekend.

Marcelo, though, has been ruled out of both legs, after he was stretchered off in the same game. Alvaro Arbeloa is suspended after his late sending off against Galatasaray, while Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso return after serving a one-match suspension.

Expected lineups: Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Hummels, Subotic, Schmelzer; Gundogan, Bender; Reus, Gotze, Groskreutz; Lewandowski.

Real Madrid: Diego Lopez; Ramos, Varane, Pepe, Coentrao; Khedira, Alonso; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo; Higuain.

Prediction: 1-1