Real Madrid made it into the Champions League semi-final despite a defensive horror show against Borussia Dortmund, who so nearly came back from their first-leg 3-0 mauling. 

With Cristiano Ronaldo not fit to start he was left pacing the touchline as Jurgen Klopp's side almost ended his Champions League campaign, laying siege to Madrid's goal with only Iker Casillas's brilliance to stop them from knocking the Carlo Ancelotti's team out.

‘He made some fantastic saves,’ said Ancelotti of his heroic keeper. ‘We gave them too many gifts especially in the first half. We were slow and made too many mistakes; we suffered too much but we are through.’

Real Madrid had the chance to settle the tie as early as the 15th minute when Łukasz Piszczek gave away a penalty.

The right back prepared for Fabio Coentrao's cross with both hands behind his back but then stuck out his left arm as he jumped to block the centre and left referee Damir Skomina with little option but to point to the spot.

It would have been Ronaldo's chance to make it to 15 goals in this season's Champions League but with the injured player watching from the sidelines Angel Di Maria nervously took the ball. He slipped as he ran up to the spot and made only enough contact to send his weak shot to the left of Roman Weidenfeller, who saved comfortably. 

Real had started strongly but the miss seemed to invigorate Dortmund and Henrikh Mkhitaryan could have put them ahead on the night. Asier Illarramendi was muscled off the ball by Robert Lewandowski and when the ball ran to Marco Reus he played in Mkhitaryan who shot wide.

Madrid were suddenly flapping at the back and on 24 minutes awful defending from Pepe gifted Dortmund the first goal of the night. The defender headed back towards Casillas's goal allowing Reus to intercept and shot past the keeper.

Madrid were unable to stop the flow of Dortmund attacks down both flanks and nerves almost got the better of Pepe's central defensive partner Sergio Ramos.

He tangled with Robert Lewandowski inside the box and although the free-kick went against the Pole it was Ramos who was booked. The Spain defender had upset the referee with his protests but he had also caught Lewandowski in the face in the fracas.

On the half hour Xabi Alonso joined Ramos in the book for a foul on the edge of the area on Reus and from the free-kick Casillas had to turn Mats Hummels' header away for a corner.

On 37 minutes came the second defensive howler this time from Illarramendi who mis-controlled in midfield allowing the ball to break to Lewandowski. His shot hit the post but when it came out to Reus he thundered into the roof of Casillas' net.

Klopp was now grinning from ear to ear as Ronaldo emerged from the bench to remonstrate with his team-mates. He could see his dream of reaching the Champions League final in his home country next month slipping away from him.

Nothing was going Madrid's way. Luka Modric tried to send Gareth Bale racing away down the right but the ball hit his heel and bounced back into Madrid's half for Dortmund to launch yet another attack.

Ancelotti took action at half time replacing Illarramendi with Isco and starting the second half with an extra man in midfield. Bale had the first chance of the second period drawing a save from Weidenfeller. Alonso then risked a red card in a clash with Mkhitaryan but just pulled out of the challenge in time.

Ronaldo sidelined with a knee problem but name among the substitutes was calmer now sipping from an energy drink just in case things went from bad to worse. Bale then wrestled his way between Hummels and Erik Durm but he was torn between finding Karim Benzema at the back post and shooting from the tight angle himself. In his cross-shot went harmlessly wide. Benzema then went through onto a Modric pass but the advancing Weidenfeller forced him wide and Hummels cleared.

Ronaldo's heart was back in his mouth on 65 minutes when Reus played Mkhitaryan through but he hit Casillas right hand upright with Madrid's defence scrambling back. This was a game Ancelotti's team needed to control from the first kick instead they had been dragged all over the rain-soaked Signal Iduna Park pitch and moments later Dani Carvajal became the third Madrid player to be booked.