Lewandowski inflicts more Spain pain

Borussia Dortmund 4 Real Madrid 1

The Poland striker gave Jurgen Klopp’s men an early lead and, after Cristiano Ronaldo equalised late in the first half for Real Madrid, Lewandowski struck three times more in the second half.

Following 2012 finalist Bayern’s 4-0 hammering of Barcelona on Tuesday night, it was a further indication ahead of next week’s return legs in Spain that the balance of power in European football may be shifting.

After a build-up dominated by the announcement that Mario Gotze will depart Dortmund for Bayern in the summer, his current side made a blistering start.

Raphael Varane cleared Marcel Schmelzer’s early cross but Dortmund soon had a clear opportunity.

Marco Reus isolated Varane and surged through the visiting defence. His shot was parried by Diego Lopez and Lewandowski, reluctant to over-stretch, failed to tuck away the loose ball.

The goal arrived in the eighth minute, though, Gotze swinging in a superb cross from the left for Lewandowski, this time reaching out a long right leg after losing his marker Pepe, to sidefoot home.

Real began to establish themselves in the game as the tempo settled down, and a 30-yard free-kick provided their first sight of goal. Ronaldo’s dipping effort was beaten away by keeper Roman Weidenfeller.

Jakub Blaszczykowski caused problems with a surge into the Real penalty area, past Coentrao, but Gonzalo Higuain had tracked him all the way back and the striker made a superb challenge as the last man.

And having excelled defensively, Higuain then played his part at the other end as he seized on Mats Hummels’ poor back-pass and squared for Ronaldo to slot the ball home.

That left the scores level at the break but Lewandowski restored his side’s lead five minutes after the restart.

With Real appealing for offside as Reus’ pass found the Pole he kept his head, turned quickly on the ball and poked low past Diego Lopez.

And it was soon 3-1 as Schmelzer’s mishit shot deflected to Lewandowski, who brilliantly dragged the ball back away from Pepe and fired it into the top corner.

Lopez had to be at his best to keep Real in the game when Ilkay Gundogan drove through the defence and punched a rising effort at goal, which the keeper tipped over the bar.

And dominant Dortmund were then awarded a penalty for Xabi Alonso’s blatant shove in the back of Reus. Lewandowski slammed the penalty straight down the middle to make it 4-1.

The striker put a slight blot on his copybook with a booking for blocking Sergio Ramos but soon threatened a fifth goal with a 25-yard curler pushed over by Lopez.

“We know everything about Lewandowski and I mean everything. We let him in for three of the goals and it’s disappointing,” Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho reflected afterwards before conceding: “They were the best team by far. They deserved it. We lost easy possession.”

BORUSSIA DORTMUND: Weidenfeller, Piszczek (Grosskreutz 83), Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer, Bender, Gundogan (Schieber 90), Blaszczykowski (Kehl 82), Gotze, Reus, Lewandowski.

REAL MADRID: Diego Lopez, Sergio Ramos, Varane, Pepe, Fabio Coentrao, Khedira, Alonso (Kaka 80), Ozil, Modric (Di Maria 68), Ronaldo, Higuain (Benzema 68).

Referee: Bjorn Kuipers (Holland).