Carlo Ancelotti’s club made another amazing comeback at Santiago Bernabeu in a rematch of the previous season’s European final.

After trailing 2-0 at halftime, Real Madrid rallied their European campaign on Tuesday by overcoming Borussia Dortmund 5-2, once again displaying Champions League magic. Lucas Vazquez’s game-winning goal will be remembered as the high point of an incredible evening, even if Vinicius Jr. was the Blancos’ best player of the night, scoring the second, fourth, and fifth goals.

Dortmund took the lead after the first half was back and forth. Serge Guirassy delivered the ball to Donyell Malen, who smashed it in past a helpless Thibaut Courtois.

Jamie Gittens converted a cross from Malen four minutes later, sneaking in at the back post to score the second goal. Madrid responded with a swift attack, although they did a decent job of failing to score.

Jude Bellingham missed a great chance and smashed a shot off the crossbar. Rodrygo also hit the woodwork, but a strange deflection was stopped by Gregor Kobel’s full-stretch save.

Naturally, Madrid woke up after the break. The front line purred as the home team put pressure following Nuri Sahin’s shift to a more conservative posture. Less than two minutes after Toni Rudiger had first scored by heading home Kylian Mbappe’s cross, Vinicius buried the equalizer. Everything else seemed inevitable after that. Following a third goal from Vazquez, Vinicius added two more incredible goals to complete his hat-trick and win the Champions League once more.

Goalkeeper & Defence

Thibaut Courtois (7/10):

Could do nothing about either Dortmund goal. Made a couple of good saves soon after to keep things close enough. Another vital intervention kept it at 2-2 shortly before Vazquez scored.

Lucas Vazquez (6/10):

From zero to hero. Gave the ball away in the run up to the Dortmund first and lost his man at the back post for the second. Then went and smashed home the winner in the 83rd minute.

Eder Militao (6/10):

Excellent in the early goings, but could have done better for the Dortmund second.

Antonio Rudiger (7/10):

Took his header wonderfully. The better of the two centre-backs on the night.

Ferland Mendy (6/10):

Could have squeezed the spaces more effectively on the opener, and was easily done for the Dortmund second.

Midfield

Federico Valverde (7/10):

Ran everywhere when he really could have done with holding his position a bit more. Much improved when played alongside a more traditional defensive midfielder.

Jude Bellingham (7/10):

A mixed bag. Had some lovely touches and was unfortunate to hit the bar. But he missed a couple of good chances and could have been cleaner on the ball.

Luka Modric (6/10):

A bit sloppy after an impressive showing at the weekend. Redeemed himself with a ridiculous pass in the run up to Madrid’s second.

Attack

Rodrygo (6/10):

Off the post, smashing one. He could use a goal, but his link-up play was significantly better in several areas.

Kylian Mbappe (7/10):

Was mostly anonymous before he assisted Rudiger’s header, and got better thereafter.

Vinicius Jr (10/10):

It would be a nightmare to defend. scored the equalizer, curled home the fourth, tied several opponents in knots, and finished with an incredible fifth. The world’s best.

Subs & Manager

Eduardo Camavinga (7/10):

Offered some much-needed midfield solidity in the second half.

Aurelien Tchouameni (N/A):

No time to make an impact.

Dani Ceballos (N/A):

No time to make an impact.

Arda Guler (N/A):

No time to make an impact.

Carlo Ancelotti (7/10):

Without a genuine defensive midfielder, he went for a pretty attacking setup, which hurt him early because Madrid was occasionally way too exposed. After the break, however, they switched it on. He deserves praise for maintaining his original system in spite of its shortcomings.