Marcelo: Dortmund are a very strong team

Real Madrid defender Marcelo says that he and his team-mates are fully aware of the quality Borussia Dortmund possess.

Madrid met Dortmund in the group stages earlier in the competition and were unable to beat the Germans, losing in Germany and drawing 2-2 at Santiago Bernabeu and Brazilian defender Marcelo is fully aware of the threat they possess going into next week’s Champions League semi-final.



“We are clear that we want to arrive at this much-anticipated final but we also know that Borussia are a very strong team,” Marcelo told AFP.



“We drew with them in the Bernabeu and we know it will be very difficult because they are a great side. They also like to attack a lot and in the way we attack we are similar.

“Lewandowski is a difficult man to defend against. The whole team is very strong, so we cannot fixate on just one player and we will see what happens because we are desperate to go to the final.



“The team is very united in the dressing room and you notice this on the pitch. Many times I hear people talking about the 10th European Cup.



“It is a dream for the supporters but we are first dreaming about getting to the final and going step-by-step.



“We have a great chance and we will see if we can achieve it,” he added.

Marcelo extends contract with Real Madrid until 2018

Real Madrid's left-back Marcelo has extended his contract with the club, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.



Marcelo's previous contract would expire in 2015, but it has now been extended until June 2018.



The Spanish club also increased Marcelo's net wages from 2.3 million Euros a year to 4 million Euros a year.



Marcelo joined Real Madrid from Fluminense in 2007, and has also been a regular starter at Brazil's national team. He is regarded in Spain as Roberto Carlos' successor.



Real Madrid's president Florentino Pérez regards him a key player, he told Marca: "we have the best left-back in the world, so we couldn't just let him go".



Despite his talent, his place in Real Madrid's first team has been threatened lately by Portuguese player Fábio Coentrão.



Marcelo has also been struggling with injuries this season, which has allowed Brazil's manager Scolari to give Atlético de Madrid's left-back Filipe chances in the national team starting line-up.