Champions League on Betfair: Dortmund matched at 660.0 to qualify in late drama against Malaga

11Apr 2013

Bajnokok Ligája

It was a night of big drama in the Champions League and big prices on Betfair, as Dortmund and Real Madrid booked their places in the last four...

Felipe Santana's injury time winner booked Jurgen Klopp's Dortmund into the semi-finals of the Champions League last night as the German side rallied from 1-2 down knowing they needed to score twice to go through due to the away goals rule. Matched as high as 660.0 on the exchange in play, Dortmund also hit a price of 400.0 to win the tournament during last night's game. It was tough to take for Malaga, were matched as low as 1.05 to qualify having led going into the final stages of the tie, but first a goal from Marco Reus levelled things up and then a suspiciously offside looking winner from an unlikely source tipped the game in Dortmund's favour.

Malaga got off to a dream start courtesy of a beautiful finish from Spanish veteran Joaquin (matched at 32.0 to be first goalscorer), who drilled low into the corner past Roman Weidenfeller to put the visitors 0-1 up in both the tie and on aggregate. A classy equaliser from Robert Lewandowski followed 15 minutes later, but Portuguese flier Eliseu looked to have put the game beyond Dortmund with less than ten minutes left when he put Manuel Pellegrini's men 1-2 ahead.

Dortmund's late late show was harsh on Malaga, who had battled well and worked hard to force their way into the lead twice at what is undoubtedly one of Europe's most difficult places to visit, and the nature of the winner (which looked offside not just when Santana prodded the ball home but also when the original free kick was delivered) will be the bitterest of pills to swallow.

Malaga are already banned from European competition next season due to failing to meet financial obligations, and so would have been desperate to get to the latter stages of the Champions League for the first time in their history.

In the evening's other fixture, Real Madrid qualified for the semi-finals but only after a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Fatih Terim's Galatasaray. Ronaldo notched both goals for Los Merengues, but two goals from ex-Premier League players Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Eboue made sure the Turkish side took the spoils on the evening in a scoreline that was matched at 90.0 in play. Ex-Arsenal man Eboue first rifled one in from the edge of the area before Wesley Sneijder's dextrous finish put Gala 2-1 ahead. Drogba added the gloss to a fine win for the hosts with a delightful backheel beyond Diego Lopez before Ronaldo pulled one back ensuring the game finished 3-2.

Dortmund are now available at 7.2 to win this season's competition, behind Barcelona 2.98, Real Madrid 3.65 and Bayern Munich 4.5.