At 3:00 AM on June 2nd, the highly anticipated 2023/24 Champions League final will take place at Wembley Stadium, where Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund will clash in a battle for ultimate glory.
Real Madrid, with 14 Champions League titles (including pre-reform) and three runner-up finishes, are undisputed kings of the competition. Dortmund, on the other hand, have only reached the summit once, in the distant 1996/97 season. While neither team might be considered the outright favorites this season, with Manchester City perhaps deserving of the final, and Bayern Munich and PSG potentially feeling aggrieved, the Champions League is not about favorites. It’s about who performs better on the night, who minimizes their errors.
This season, Dortmund has been characterized by a sense of inconsistency, carrying over their “sudden collapse” tradition from previous years. In the league, they have stumbled, alternating between winning streaks and losing streaks, ultimately finishing 5th. During this time, coach Edin Terzic has been repeatedly on the brink of being fired, while internal player conflicts have festered. It’s difficult to imagine how Dortmund, lacking in strength and battling internal strife, could reach the Champions League final. They eliminated PSV Eindhoven in the Round of 16, but after losing 1-2 in the first leg of the quarterfinals against Atlético Madrid, many believed their journey was over. However, they staged a remarkable comeback, winning 4-2 in the second leg. In the semi-finals, they comprehensively defeated PSG. Despite being initially considered outsiders, they have made it to the end. However, their ability to emerge from the “group of death” is a testament to their capabilities.
In La Liga, Real Madrid dominated, losing just one game in 38 matches, scoring 87 goals and conceding 26. Their dominance was evident in both attack and defense. In the Champions League group stage, they swept all six matches, comfortably securing top spot and advancing to the knockout rounds. In the Round of 16, they faced RB Leipzig. While the German team presented a more well-rounded performance, Real Madrid proved more efficient. In the quarterfinals, they met Manchester City, once again appearing to be the underdogs. However, they ultimately prevailed thanks to penalties and VAR. In the semi-finals, they faced a depleted Bayern Munich and, despite struggling, managed to advance to the final. A common thread throughout these knockout matches was Real Madrid’s resilience when trailing. They always had a fighter who stepped up, equalizing or even overturning the score. They may not be the most aesthetically pleasing team to watch, but they are masters of winning.
In their last five league matches, Dortmund has a record of 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses, scoring 11 goals and conceding 9. Perhaps having secured Champions League qualification early, the Black and Yellows have entered the final stage of the season with a lack of intensity. Real Madrid, on the other hand, has won 3 and drawn 2 of their last five league games, scoring 16 goals and conceding 4. However, their performances have suggested a certain level of coasting in the final stages.
The two teams have faced each other 14 times in the Champions League, with Dortmund winning 3, drawing 5, and losing 6, indicating a clear disadvantage. The last time Dortmund defeated Real Madrid was in the 2013/14 Champions League quarter-final second leg. In that match, Marco Reus scored twice. Their most recent encounter was in the 2017/18 group stage, where Real Madrid won both legs.
It’s worth noting that Dortmund’s last Champions League final appearance also took place at Wembley Stadium. In that match, they lost 1-2 to Bayern Munich, finishing as runners-up. Marco Reus’ tears after the match were a poignant moment from that passionate night. Eleven years later, Dortmund is back in the Champions League final, with Reus and Mats Hummels returning to Wembley. Their experience could be a valuable asset for the younger players in the team. Will Reus finally fulfill his dream this time?
Before the match, Dortmund released the squad list for their trip to Wembley. All the key players are present, including Sébastien Haller, who had been dealing with injury. Jadon Sancho, Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Mats Hummels, and Marco Reus are all included. Coach Edin Terzic has brought his strongest available lineup. On the other side, Real Madrid is also fully equipped, with all their stars ready to go. Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Júnior, Toni Kroos, Luka Modrić, Dani Carvajal, and Thibaut Courtois are all set to start. According to pre-match information from Spanish media, Andriy Lunin is likely to miss out on the starting lineup due to illness, which means Thibaut Courtois, who was recently left out of the Belgium European Championship squad, is likely to be the starting goalkeeper.
In terms of experience, Terzic is relatively new to the Champions League. However, Carlo Ancelotti has already won four Champions League titles, and he also won the competition twice as a player. This match is an opportunity for him to lead Real Madrid to their third Champions League trophy during his time at the club. It’s impossible to predict how this highly anticipated clash between European club giants will begin or end. Let’s prepare ourselves for the spectacle and see what unfolds.
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