Out to foil Real Madrid ‘spies’? Dortmund shun Bernabéu training session

As Borussia Dortmund prepare to visit Real Madrid in the Champions League this midweek, head coach Nuri Sahin has raised eyebrows by switching up his team’s training routine - apparently in a bid to avoiding prying eyes.

Instead of conducting Dortmund’s final practice session on the pitch at Madrid’s Bernabéu stadium, Sahin opted to complete the team’s preparations at the club’s training ground. The Bundesliga team, which lost last season’s Champions League final to Madrid, will instead fly to the Spanish capital later today.

Why won’t Dortmund be training in Spain?

According to the German newspaper Bild, Sahin decided against training at the Bernabéu for fear that Madrid ‘spies’ could watch their session, in an attempt to glean information on the visitors’ tactical plan for the matchday-three clash. The first 15 minutes of Dortmund’s work-out in Germany was open to the media, in line with UEFA regulations, but only included warm-up drills.

Dortmund the UCL’s form team so far

Sahin, who spent three years as a Madrid player between 2011 and 2014, takes Dortmund to Spain with Die Schwarzgelben sitting top of the table in the Champions League’s new ‘league phase’. Winners of the tournament in 1997, Dortmund have two European victories from two this season, having followed up a 3-0 triumph against Club Brugge with a 7-1 thrashing of Celtic.

Madrid, meanwhile, are down in 17th place after two Champions League games. Los Blancos began the defence of their continental title with a 3-1 home win over VfB Stuttgart, but suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat away to Lille last time out.

Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund: start time, TV info

Madrid host Dortmund tomorrow, Tuesday October 22, with kick-off scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET/12 noon PT. Viewers in the United States can watch the Champions League game on TUDN USA, UniMás, Paramount+ and Vix.