Champions League Final Preview: Borussia Dortmund -v- Real Madrid

A detailed view of the UEFA Champions League trophy is seen on a plinth prior to the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 final match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid CF at Wembley Stadium on May 31, 2024 in London, England.

A detailed view of the UEFA Champions League trophy is seen on a plinth prior to the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 final match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid CF at Wembley Stadium on May 31, 2024 in London, England. Credit: Photo by Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Macdara Ferris reports from Wembley

BORUSSIA DORTMUND

Wembley welcomes the European Cup Final for a record eighth time on Saturday night. The last time Dortmund played a final here, they lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich and they have a big challenge on Saturday night if they are to go one better than back in 2013. 

Edin Terzić’s side have just finished fifth in the Bundesliga having the previous season blown their title chances in the final game of the campaign.

They now take on a Real Madrid side who are of course steeped in record breaking European history and also come into the game as La Liga winners.

Terzić recognises the challenge ahead of his team in the final but spoke with some optimism to UEFA ahead of the game. “We know that anything is possible when it’s a one-off match like this,” said the 41-year-old Borussia Dortmund boss.

“That’s our chance. If we played Real Madrid ten times, it’d probably be a stretch but for one match, 90 minutes or 120 plus penalties, we’re capable of beating any opponent in the world.”

There is quite the focus on German football at present - from Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable unbeaten Bundesliga title winning double campaign – along with their loss in last week’s Europa League Final in Dublin – to go with EURO 2024 to begin in Germany in a fortnight’s time.

The focus this weekend is on BVB’s attempt to win their second ever Champions League title (having won the trophy back in 1997 beating Juventus 3-1 in the final).

There are a couple of players who played in that 2013 final loss with Mats Hummels and Marco Reus – the latter player is bidding farewell to Dortmund after a dozen years and over 400 appearances. He holds the club record for goals (24) and appearances (71) in Europe.



Speaking to UEFA.com Reus said: “The last final at Wembley was 11 years ago, and it's a different opposition, different players as well, so it's not about revenge, it's just about the anticipation.

"Now the objective is to win the trophy. It's just about the next 90 minutes, possibly 120 minutes, which will decide [the outcome].

“Dortmund means everything to me. Playing for a club for 12 years, it has to mean something. You don't stay just because of the name or the money. You need to feel comfortable, have a good environment and have great team-mates. The fans play a huge role as well.”

BVB had an epic quarter-final win over Atletico Madrid.

They lost the first leg in Madrid 2-1 but won the return leg 4-2 with Niclas Füllkrug and Marcel Sabitzer scoring twice in three minutes in the last quarter of the game to earn a 5-4 win after what Julian Brandt described as “a crazy game”.

Dortmund shut out Paris Saint-Germain’s attacking talent in the semi-final with two clean sheets in 1-0 home and away wins.



That will give them some belief especially ahead of the huge challenge they have in facing Real in the final. 

Dortmund (probable – 4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Can, Sabitzer; Adeyemi, Brandt, Sancho; Füllkrug

REAL MADRID

Plucky fan owned Real Madrid are seeking to take over the crown of European champions from last year’s winners Manchester City. Los Blancos have of course done it all before. They are looking to win their 15th European Cup and are heavy favourites for the game in London. 

It is their 18th time in the final and the Spanish side have only lost three times, the last of which was back in 1981. Since then they have incredibley won each of the eight Champions League finals they have contested.

Their European pedigree has no equal and time and again they have proven under Carlo Ancelotti that they can come back from the dead. Their run to winning the trophy two years ago was a series of great escapes and this year hasn’t been far off that drama. Ancelotti has spoken about how “Madrid always fight to stay in situations where there seems to be no way out.”

In the quarter-final this year they drew 3-3 at home to Manchester City in the first leg and when the second leg finished 1-1 after extra-time Los Blancos prevailed only on penalties 4-3.

They were two minutes from elimination at the hands of German opposition in the semi-final. Having drawn away to Bayern Munich 2-2, they trailed 2-0 in the second leg in the Santiago Bernabeu only for 34-year-old substitute Joseulu to pop up to score twice at the death to earn them a place in their fifth final in six years.

Speaking in the pre-match press conference, Luca Modrić talked about the team’s mentality in those situation.

“We would rather be ahead if possible but we have proven many times this year and previously when things don’t go to plan we keep fighting,” said the 38-year-old Croatian.

“We find a way to come back. We need to keep having that mentality and commitment.”

Two Englishmen will face off against one another in the match – Jordan Sancho the Manchester United cast off is with Dortmund in the yellow corner – and the brilliant talent that is Jude Bellingham is in the white corner. Bellingham of course was a Dortmund player between 2020 and 2023.

During his time in Germany, he scored 24 goals in 132 games in all competitions and was a DFB-Pokal German Cup winner in 2021.

Bellingham claimed the number five shirt once worn with great acclaim by Zinedine Zidane in Madrid and the 20-year-old lit up La Liga this season – where he was voted player of the year. He had 25 goal involvements in 28 league games – 19 goals and six assists.

He was a crucial player amongst all Madrid’s stars in securing their 36th league title. 

He also scored in his first four Champions League games for Los Merengues and may well be the star that will shine brightest in Wembley on Saturday night.

Ancelotti confirmed at the pre-match press conference that with Andriy Luni suffering from flu, Thibaut Courtois will start in goal for his team.

Real Madrid (probable 4-4-2): Courtois; Carvajal, Nacho, Rüdiger, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Camavinga; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinícius Júnior

Referee: Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia)

MATCH STATS

Real Madrid sit top of the pile with 14 European Cups. Next is AC Milan (seven), then Bayern Munich and Liverpool (both six) with Barcelona just behind them (five). 

Dortmund have won just the two European trophies – the Champions League (1997) and European Cup Winners Cup (1966). Real have 16 trophies – with two UEFA Cups to go with all their European crowns.

Vini Jr, Joseul and Rodryo all have five goals in Europe this season and lead the goalscoring way for Real while the top scorer in Europe for Dortmund is Niclas Füllkrug with just three goals in this European campaign (having only debuted in the competition last September).

There have been seven previous Wembley European Cup finals. The winners have been Bayern Munich (2013), Barcelona (2011 and 1992), Liverpool (1978), Ajax (1971), Manchester United (1968) and AC Milan (1963),

PREDICTION

2-1 win for Real Madrid

About Macdara Ferris

Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile