Real up against Germany’s best

Real Madrid needs to shake off its abysmal away form in Germany when it faces Borussia Dortmund, with Manchester City and Ajax knowing any slipup could see either missing out on the knockout stages from the Champions League’s toughest group.

Madrid won its opening pair of Group D matches but travels to Dortmund with only one victory in 23 games in Germany against German opponents. The Spanish team has lost 16 of those with the lone victory coming at Bayer Leverkusen in 2000.

Dortmund, which hasn’t beaten Spanish opposition at home in five games, has struggled since surrendering a late goal at City to provide the English champions with their only point of the competition so far.

Madrid, which has six points, can take control of Group D with an away win. Dortmund is next with four points, while City has one and Ajax is last with none.

Madrid’s limp defense certainly won’t help as the Spanish champions are without injured defenders Marcelo, Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Coentrao. Madrid coach Jose Mourinho recruited midfielder Michael Essien into the backfield to help fill the void in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Celta Vigo. Madrid has struggled domestically and remains eight points behind co-leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, but the European competition has brought out the best of Mourinho’s team and Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored four of his 15 goals in the competition.

‘We’ve got injuries but this is a squad where everyone can play where necessary and that’s what we’re doing,’ Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain said. ‘We’ve had to move people around, but we’ve done it well.’

Dortmund is 12 points behind Bayern after Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Schalke and could be focusing more on the Champions League after a disappointing showing in the competition last year, when it finished last in its group.

Jakub Blaszczykowski (knee) will miss Madrid’s visit, and fellow midfielder Ilkay Guendogan (spine) and defender Marcel Schmelzer (foot) hope to recover in time. Mario Goetze (thigh) could be available.

‘We want to produce a completely different performance against Real,’ said Dortmund defender Matts Hummels,

Roberto Mancini’s side travel to Amsterdam to take on the Dutch champions Ajax as both sides are in a must win situation to have glimpses of hope in progressing from the Group of Death.

Arsenal host Schalke as the hosts are keen to continue winning run and add three more points.