The victory over Mainz had been a cathartic experience, a collective release of the frustration and disappointment that had been lingering since the DFB-Pokal exit.
But in the world of elite football, the highs are often fleeting, the moments of celebration quickly replaced by the anticipation and pressure of the next challenge. And for Borussia Dortmund, the next challenge was the biggest of them all: a two-legged Champions League semi-final against the mighty Real Madrid.
The draw had been met with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Real Madrid were the reigning European champions, a team of galacticos, a club with a history and a pedigree that was second to none. They were the benchmark, the team that everyone wanted to beat, the ultimate test of any team's credentials as a genuine European contender.
