European football expert Graham Hunter (@bumpergraham) is predicting Real Madrid’s experience and composure will prove key in getting a positive result in tonight’s Champions League semi-final with Borussia Dortmund in Germany.

If it’s not to be a complete Bundesliga domination of this week’s Champions League semi finals then, ironically, Real Madrid might depend on a German to restore some La Liga pride.

Mesut Ozil has become a world class footballer under Jose Mourinho. He arrived in Spain as a young man of patent talent but the physical training at Madrid has not only completely altered his stamina (no longer is it a trademark that he’s subbed after 70 minutes) but given him significantly more top-body strength with which to hold off challenges and to buy himself space.

But, more than that, this game is a local derby against ‘the enemy’ for him. Born 35 minutes away from the Dortmund’s amazing Signal Iduna Park and originally a Schalke 04 youth talent, Ozil has always loved a tussle with the ScharzGelb (Black and Yellow).

How Ozil became the key man

Perhaps there’s something Pavlovian about the German midfielder’s response to facing Dortmund but having shone against them domestically for Schalke and Bremen, Özil was then probably the stand-out performer in the two Group D games between the sides earlier this season.

Away from home,  admittedly in defeat,  his was the clever lofted assist-pass which helped Cristiano Ronaldo score almost instantly after going behind to Robert Lewandowski’s opener.

In the return match it was the Real Madrid No 10 whose left-footed cross dropped perfectly for Pepe to head home the first equaliser and, again, it was Özil who squared the game in the last seconds thanks to a daring free kick which slid in at Roman Weidenfeller’s left hand post.

Again on the positive side for the reigning Spanish champions Ronaldo is on the most powerful, convincing and enjoyable form of his entire career. Beyond all the normal talent, power, height, free kicks, pace and heading ability there’s no missing the fact that since the Ballon D’Or went to Leo Messi in January the Portuguese has quietly got on with dominating Spanish football and putting himself in a position to rob Messi of the Champions League top scorer award for the first time in five seasons.

What’s more, he’s also a more complete team player than ever before. Previously there were uneven comparisons between Ronaldo and Messi in terms of goal assists but, again, CR7 has begun to close the gap and has been generous this season, in La Liga and the Champions League, in giving goals to Benzema, Higuain (who’ll start tonight) Ozil and Di Maria.

On that subject Mourinho will use Diego: Ramos, Pepe, Varane, Coentrao, Alonso, Khedira, Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo and Higuain tonight.

Pepe is the weak link

One man who’ll have to completely change his level of performance from the group games is Pepe. He gave away possession, allowed a shot to go right under his boot and was outjumped by Robert Lewandowski for three of the four goals in Group D which gave Jurgen Klopp’s team a win and a draw.

Important to Madrid in terms of height, power and pace Pepe is also a player who is notoriously capable of losing concentration and of losing his head. It will be a volatile atmosphere at Signal Iduna, Lewandowski says he’s fully fit and this is going to be a test for the Portugal international.

If he improves from his last two meetings with Dortmund and if Ozil and Ronaldo hit their marks then Madrid have the chance of taking a score draw back to Spain.

Dortmund merit respect for being quick, technical, smart, confident, well coached and terrifically well supported. However it’s possible that, tonight, experience and timing are slightly more in Madrid’s favour than a couple of months ago.

Malaga showed that Dortmund are vulnerable to the counter attack,  Mario Gotze’s transfer to Bayern being announced can’t help and, perhaps, the gap between the sides which was evident late last year has narrowed a little.

Betting: Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid

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European football expert and red-hot tipster Graham Hunter is predicting Real Madrid’s experience and composure to prove key in getting a positive result in tonight’s Champions League semi-final with Borussia Dortmund in Germany.

If it’s not to be a complete Bundesliga domination of this week’s Champions League semi finals then, ironically, Real Madrid might depend on a German to restore some La Liga pride.

Mesut Ozil has become a world class footballer under Jose Mourinho. He arrived in Spain as a young man of patent talent but the physical training at Madrid has not only completely altered his stamina (no longer is it a trademark that he’s subbed after 70 minutes) but given him significantly more top-body strength with which to hold off challenges and to buy himself space.

But, more than that, this game is a local derby against ‘the enemy’ for him. Born 35 minutes away from the Dortmund’s amazing Signal Iduna Park and originally a Schalke 04 youth talent, Ozil has always loved a tussle with the ScharzGelb (Black and Yellow).

Perhaps there’s something Pavlovian about the German midfielder’s response to facing Dortmund but having shone against them domestically for Schalke and Bremen, Özil was then probably the stand-out performer in the two Group D games between the sides earlier this season.

Away from home,  admittedly in defeat,  his was the clever lofted assist-pass which helped Cristiano Ronaldo score almost instantly after going behind to Robert Lewandowski´s opener.

In the return match it was the Real Madrid No 10 whose left-footed cross dropped perfectly for Pepe to head home the first equaliser and, again, it was Özil who squared the game in the last seconds thanks to a daring free kick which slid in at Roman Weidenfeller’s left hand post.

Again on the positive side for the reigning Spanish champions Ronaldo is on the most powerful, convincing and enjoyable form of his entire career. Beyond all the normal talent, power, height, free kicks, pace and heading ability there’s no missing the fact that since the Ballon D’Or went to Leo Messi in January the Portuguese has quietly got on with dominating Spanish football and putting himself in a position to rob Messi of the Champions League top scorer award for the first time in five seasons. What’s more, he’s also a more complete team player than ever before. Previously there were uneven comparisons between Ronaldo and Messi in terms of goal assists but, again, CR7 has begun to close the gap and has been generous this season, in La Liga and the Champions League, in giving goals to Benzema, Higuain (who’ll start tonight) Ozil and Di Maria.

On that subject Mourinho will use Diego: Ramos, Pepe, Varane, Coentrao, Alonso, Khedira, Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo and Higuain tonight.

One man who’ll have to completely change his level of performance from the group games is Pepe. He gave away possession, allowed a shot to go right under his boot and was outjumped by Robert Lewandowski for three of the four goals in Group D which gave Jurgen Klopp’s team a win and a draw.

Important to Madrid in terms of height, power and pace Pepe is also a player who is notoriously capable of losing concentration and of losing his head. It will be a volatile atmosphere at Signal Iduna, Lewandowski says he’s fully fit and this is going to be a test for the Portugal international.

If he improves from his last two meetings with Dortmund and if Ozil and Ronaldo hit their marks then Madrid have the chance of taking a score draw back to Spain.

Dortmund merit respect for being quick, technical, smart, confident, well coached and terrifically well supported. However it’s possible that, tonight, experience and timing are slightly more in Madrid’s favour than a couple of months ago.

Malaga showed that Dortmund are vulnerable to the counter attack,  Mario Gotze’s transfer to Bayern being announced can’t help and, perhaps, the gap between the sides which was evident late last year has narrowed a little.

Betting: Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid

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Germany

The youngster impressed at this summer’s World Cup and emerged as one of Germany’s star performers in South Africa, as Joachim Loew’s men reached the last four.

Ozil was linked with moves to Premier League heavyweights Manchester United and Chelsea, as well as Spanish champions Barcelona, but instead chose to make the move to Madrid.

Real paid Werder Bremen a reported €15million (approx £12.3m) for the 21-year-old’s signature and Ozil admits Mourinho was the reason he chose to make the switch to the Spanish giants.

“There was no other option than to play for Real Madrid. I knew that I wanted to play in the best team in the world and for the best coach. And for me Mourinho is the best, and I wanted to play with him,” revealed Ozil in a press conference.

“We talked, but what we said is between us. What I can say is I talked with him and he persuaded me.”

Real have watched bitter rivals Barcelona lift the Spanish title for the last two consecutive seasons, while they have not enjoyed Champions League success since 2002, but Ozil is confident that under Mourinho the Madrid side can secure some major silverware.

He added:  “We want to win the League and the Champions League. I think we have the potential and quality necessary to fight for the two competitions. I came here to win titles.”

Since his arrival in the Spanish capital, Mourinho has been busy in the transfer market as he bids to bring the title back to the Bernabeu.  The ‘Special One’ has added World Cup stars Sami Khedira and Angel Di Maria to his squad, with German defensive midfielder Khedira making the move from Stuttgart and Argentine winger Di Maria joining from Benfica.

Pedro Leon has also joined from Getafe, while Sergio Canales signed from Racing Santander and big things are expected from the creative midfielder.

Mourinho has also captured Ricardo Carvalho to bolster his defence, having worked with the veteran Portuguese star before at Porto and Chelsea, as he reshapes the Real squad (4/1 to win the 2010-11 Champions League).

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The Germany international has become one of the hottest properties in European football after an impressive World Cup this summer.

Despite saying that he planned to stay with Werder until the end of the season, Ozil has been at the centre of speculation over his future since the tournament ended in South Africa.

United and Barcelona have both been strongly linked with moves for the 21-year-old, but it looks like Real have beaten them to the punch after reaching an agreement with his current club.

The Bundesliga side rejected a bid from Real earlier this summer, but its now thought that a fee in the region of £12million has been agreed.

With Ozil due to run out of contract next summer, Werder were at risk of losing their prized asset for free at the end of the season and that has led to them, reluctantly, agreeing to sell.

Werder (7/1 to win 2010-11 Bundesliga title), though, had forced Real to push through a deal after their manager, Klaus Allofs, threatened to play Ozil in Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier against Sampdoria.

Jose Mourinho will see the forward as a key player in Real’s battle to lift Europe’s top club trophy (Real 4/1 to win 2010-11 Champions League) and would not have wanted the German international cup-tied.

Real have now confirmed the deal, with a short statement on their website saying: “Real Madrid and Werder Bremen have reached an agreement for the transfer of Mesut Ozil.

“His unique touch, unmatched individual technique, excellent ball control and deadly last pass make the German midfielder one of the brightest up-and-coming stars in European football.”

Ozil will undergo a medical in the Spanish capital on Tuesday evening and it is unlikely that personal terms will be an issue for the forward.

The 21-year-old will join fellow Germany (3/10 to win Euro 2012 Qualifying Group A) international Sami Khedira at the Bernabeu, after the midfielder moved to Madrid from Stuttgart earlier this summer.

Ozil will become the sixth major signing of the summer by Real, who have already captured Khedira, Ricardo Carvalho, Angel di Maria and Spanish duo Pedro Leon and Sergio Canales.

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Germany

The midfielder has highlighted English giants Manchester United and Chelsea as two clubs that he would relish playing for.

Ozil has one year left on his current deal with Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, who could be keen on cashing in on the player now before he can walk out on the club on a free next year.

It’s reported that an offer of around £12m could take the Turkish born midfielder away from the German club, a valuation that both United and Chelsea (13/8 to win the Premier League) can easily afford.

Ozil believes that there are five clubs from around Europe that he would love to play for.

He said: “There are four or five clubs in Europe that you would have to say as a player would be a dream to play for.

“When you are looking at moving clubs it’s impossible not to pay attention to the Premier League and even more impossible not to pay attention to Manchester United and Chelsea.

“I am a winner and, when I am looking for a new club, I simply look at where I can be the most successful and where I can win the most trophies,” he added.

Ozil came to prominence following the World Cup in South Africa this summer where he helped Germany reach the semi-final of the tournament.

The 21-year-old put in some strong performances on the biggest stage of world football and this has attracted the eye of some of Europe’s top clubs.

Ozil also mentioned Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona as two of the clubs he would look to play for in the future if he has the opportunity.

However, the Germany international understands that he is still contracted to Werder Bremen and that he may have to wait to make a move to a bigger club.

He said: “I am under contract with Werder for another year and it is impossible for me to say if a deal will be done this summer.

“They may decide that they want to keep me for another season or they may decide to sell me this summer so they can get some money for me. That is up to the club.”

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