UEFA Champions League Final Preview | Dortmund vs Real Madrid
The deciding moment is here, the moment of glory to crown the new European clubs’ champions has arrived
What an amazing football season we’ve had across Europe, and to cap it all, is the UEFA Champions League Final to determine who takes over from Manchester City as the newly crowned European champions.
The best will be crowned on the ultimate stage when the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League season concludes at London’s prestigious Wembley Stadium on Saturday 1 June.
This is the 69th season of Europe’s elite club competition and the 32nd since it was renamed the UEFA Champions League.
Who is playing in the Champions League final?
Borussia Dortmund were first to confirm their place in the final with a 2-0 aggregate victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
They will take on 14-time champions Real Madrid, who secured their ticket to London with a dramatic 4-3 aggregate victory over Bayern München.
Slovenia’s Slavko Vinčić will referee the game. He will be officiating his second UEFA club competition final after he is appointed the referee for the 2022 UEFA Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers.
The UEFA Champions League trophy stands 73.5cm tall and weighs 7.5kg. “It may not be an artistic masterpiece, but everybody in football is keen to get their hands on it,” said creator Jürg Stadelmann.
Lastly, the European champions also earn the right to play against the winners of the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League in the 2024 UEFA Super Cup in Warsaw, Poland.
That being siad, Real Madrid are back in yet another Champions League final. The 14-time champions of Europe most recently won the title back in 2021/22 and will partake in their sixth UCL showpiece over the last 11 seasons.
Note, Real Madrid have lifted the trophy in all six finals they participated over the eleven seasons.
Standing in their way of a record-extending 15th title and a seventh in 12 seasons are Dortmund, the side who finished fifth in the Bundesliga this season.
Edin Terzic’s side have defied the odds to get this far, but it has to be said, they haven’t really been tested. Their group stage comprised of French champions PSG, the seventh-best side in England, Newcastle, and the distant second-best side in Italy, Milan.
The last 16 saw them beat PSV, they ousted a poor version of Atletico Madrid (4th in La Liga) in the quarters, before getting the better of PSG again in the semis.
Real, for comparison, edged out RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich – both who finished comfortably above Dortmund in the Bundesliga – and beat defending UCL champions Manchester City on their way to the final.
There is no doubt that this will therefore be Dortmund’s toughest test of the season, in any competition, and that explains why Madrid are so short to win the game in 90 minutes, and in a fraction of (8/13) and to win the trophy (3/10).
We are talking about a team who stormed to the La Liga title this season, on a 47-game unbeaten run (in 90 mins) across all competitions stretching back to September and have a spell cast over this competition that is simply unquantifiable. They won’t be blinded by the bright lights on Saturday.
Five of the last six and 11 of the last 16 Champions League finals have gone under 2.5 goals, so we shouldn’t really expect too many goals here either, especially when assessing the two sides.
Defensively they are solid, conceding just 35 goals in their last 43 matches across La Liga and Champions League contests, allowing just 1.04 xGoal Average per game, keeping 21 clean sheets. They should be able to keep Dortmund at bay here.
On the other end, the Germans have shown just how vulnerable they are, while we know the strengths Real possess. Terzic’s side have allowed a huge average of 1.65 x Goal Average per game this season across league and UCL matches, with that figure rising to 1.91 when isolating just the latter.
They have been very fortunate to make it this far, relying on poor finishing and top-quality goalkeeping.
PSG – a side who I rate quite a bit lower than Madrid – created an abundance of chances equating to 10.3 xG (2.6 per game) across their four meetings despite scoring just three times. Los Blancos will be much more clinical.
Team news
Dortmund could name the same team for this game as they did in both legs of the semi-final victory over PSG. Edin Terzic has all of those 11 players fit and available.
The question mark is around Marco Reus, who was brought in for Dortmund’s last home league game of the season and received an incredible send-off with this being his final season at the club.
There is no room for sentimentality in a Champions League final though, and Reus is expected to start on the bench.
Real Madrid could be without Aurelien Tchouameni at Wembley, with the Frenchman a doubt over an injury, which could mean Eduardo Camavinga coming into midfield, while Carlo Ancelotti has a huge decision to make between the sticks.
Thibaut Courtois has been injured for nearly all of the campaign but is now fit and available, leaving Real’s Italian supremo with a selection headache given how well Andriy Lunin has played throughout the season.
Predicted line-ups
For Dortmund: Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Can, Sabitzer; Adeyemi, Brandt, Sancho; and Füllkrug should start for the German side.
And for Ancelotti’s Real Madrid: Andriy Lunin ahead of Courtois in between the sticks; Carvajal, Militao, Rüdiger, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Camavinga; Bellingham; Rodrygo, and Vinícius Júnior should kickstart this final for the La Liga giants.
6 key players to watch in the 2024 Champions League Final
Ancelotti typically runs various 4-3-3 formations, but it’s more free-flowing than possession-based. The quality of the players makes the system work, not the other way around. Edin Terzic, Dortmund’s manager, runs a 4-2-3-1 with two defensive midfielders, hybrid fullbacks and non-inverted wingers.
These six players could be decisive:
AM Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid: Bellingham, who came to Madrid last season from Dortmund in a deal worth around a reported 100 million euros, is not your typical midfielder. He operates in more advanced areas rather than dictating play and picks his spots in the box wisely. With 19 goals and six assists in 28 league games, the 20-year-old has an opportunity for a storybook game.
CB Mats Hummels, Dortmund: Hummels, 35, is one of the best ball-playing center-backs you’ll see. On top of that, he’s often been reliable as a box defender and hasn’t let his loss of pace and athleticism deter him from being one of the best in his position. If anyone can keep Madrid’s forwards in check, Hummels, on his day, is a solid pick.
LW Vinicius Jr., Real Madrid: Like Bellingham, Vinicius Jr. is a potential Ballon d’Or candidate. The 23-year-old Brazilian has risen to the occasion in several games this year and has five goals and four assists in nine UCL games. If Julian Ryerson is Dortmund’s starting right-back, he’ll need to have the game of his life.
GK Gregor Kobel, Dortmund: Defense wins titles, and Dortmund will need its players to shine to have a chance. Along with Hummels, Kobel, 26, will need to exhibit why he’s one of the sport’s rising young keepers. The Swiss international isn’t a great ball player but is an excellent shot-stopper, which can be more important in these scenarios. (Madrid also has a goalie situation to watch between Thibaut Courtois and Andriy Lunin.)
CM Toni Kroos, Madrid: Kroos won his first-ever Champions League at Wembley and he can end his career by doing the same. The 34-year-old German midfielder, one of the best to do it, is set to play his last game for Madrid before retiring after the Euros in the summer. With Aurelien Tchouameni out, Kroos will be vital in dictating play against a team he’s familiar with.
CAM Marco Reus, Dortmund: Someone will need to score for Dortmund at some point. BVB doesn’t have the same world-class talent up top as Madrid, but Reus, 34, is a club legend who could also write his name in the history books with a UCL title. He’s never won the tournament or the Bundesliga since arriving in 2012, but he also has the chance at a fairytale ending if he’s used as a substitute.
What do you need to know
Dortmund have been the surprise package of this season’s competition in the eyes of many, coming through arguably the toughest group before seeing off PSV, Atlético de Madrid and Paris to reach the Wembley final. Those performances belied an inconsistent league campaign in which Edin Terzić’s men eventually finished fifth.
Also, group winners – with a maximum 18-point haul no less – Madrid came through stern tests in all their knockout ties to reach the final, teetering on the brink against Leipzig, Manchester City and Bayern before reaching their 18th final in this competition.
Their nail-biting progression was quite a contrast to their league form, with Carlo Ancelotti’s men easing to another La Liga title.
Madrid are unbeaten in their 12 matches in the competition this season (W8 D4) but, remarkably, this is the first time they have reached a European Cup/Champions League final without losing a match.
Dortmund have lost only one of their last 11 European outings (W7 D3) though, keeping clean sheets in six of those games and scoring the first goal in nine of their last ten matches.
BVB’s last Champions League final also took place at Wembley Stadium, where they lost 2-1 to Bayern in 2013, with Mats Hummels and Marco Reus still playing pivotal roles for the club 11 years later.
That experience will be vital against a Madrid side who are no strangers to the biggest game in European club football, and who have lost only one of their last 20 UEFA competition matches against German teams (W13 D6).
Dortmund and Real Madrid’s previous European Cup final appearances
Borussia Dortmund have won one of their two previous finals, while Madrid have triumphed in 14 of their 17 showpiece appearances to date.
CitySports NG looks back on the 2024 finalists’ previous European Cup and Champions League final appearances.
DORTMUND
1997: Dortmund 3-1 Juventus
(Riedle 29 34, Ricken 71; Del Piero 65)
Arguably the greatest night in Dortmund’s history came 27 years ago in Munich as they triumphed in their first-ever Champions League final. A first-half Karl-Heinz Riedle double put BVB in control, and although Alessandro Del Piero pulled one back for Juve, substitute Lars Ricken scored a spectacular long-range lob seconds after coming on to seal glory.
2013: Dortmund 1-2 Bayern
(Gündoğan 68pen; Mandžukić 60, Robben 89)
Bayern edged an all-German final at Wembley following a close-fought encounter. Mario Mandžukić tucked in from close range on the hour to give the Bavarians the lead, but İlkay Gündoğan’s penalty levelled the scores eight minutes later. Just when it looked like the game was heading to extra time, however, Arjen Robben turned in a late winner.
REAL MADRID
1956: Real Madrid 4-3 Stade de Reims
(Di Stéfano 14, Rial 30 79, Marquitos 67; Leblond 6, Templin 10, Hidalgo 62)
In the first European Cup final, Madrid trailed 2-0 inside ten minutes at the Parc des Princes but rallied. Reims went 3-2 up just past the hour only for Manuel Marquitos to quickly level again, leaving Héctor Rial to score the winner 11 minutes from time.
1957: Real Madrid 2-0 Fiorentina
(Di Stéfano 69pen, Gento 75)
Madrid had home advantage for their second final, and it was a familiar scene at the end of the Santiago Bernabéu showpiece with the ‘home’ team celebrating again. Their Italian opponents made them work hard for it, but Alfredo Di Stéfano’s penalty midway through the second half finally broke their resolve and Paco Gento added a clincher.
1958: Real Madrid 3-2 AC Milan (aet)
(Di Stéfano 74, Rial 79, Gento 107; Pepe 59, Grillo 78)
Again, Madrid had to come from behind as Milan twice led at the Heysel Stadium. Each time it seemed the Spanish side’s grip on the trophy was weakening, goals from Di Stéfano and, with 11 minutes left, Rial levelled matters. In the first final to go to extra time, Gento’s 107th-minute effort kept the cup in Madrid.
1959: Real Madrid 2-0 Stade de Reims
(Mateos 1, Di Stéfano 47)
A repeat of the first final ended in the same way – with Madrid parading the trophy. A goal early in each half ended Reims’ hopes in Stuttgart’s Neckarstadion, Madrid making light of the absence of Ferenc Puskás and an early injury to Raymond Kopa thanks to Enrique Mateos in the first minute and Di Stéfano just after the break.
1960: Real Madrid 7-3 Eintracht Frankfurt
(Di Stéfano 27 30 73, Puskás 45+1 56 60 71; Kress 18, Stein 72 75)
What proved the last of Madrid’s five successive European Cups was the most famous as Eintracht were sublimely swept aside in Glasgow. Puskás became the first player to score a final hat-trick, and went on to claim four goals in all; Di Stéfano made do with three in a dazzling display in front of an enraptured Hampden Park crowd of 127,000.
1962: Benfica 5-3 Real Madrid
(Águas 25, Cavém 33, Coluna 50, Eusébio 64pen 69; Puskás 18 23 39)
Although Madrid’s streak of victories finally came to an end in 1960/61 – eliminated in the first round by Barcelona – they were back in the final a year later, Puskás getting his second showpiece hat-trick at Amsterdam’s Olympisch Stadium. For once, however, he was outdone as Eusébio’s two goals helped Benfica retain the trophy.
1964: Inter 3-1 Real Madrid
(Mazzola 43 76, Milani 61; Felo 70)
Madrid came up short again two years later, with veterans Di Stéfano and Puskás eclipsed by Inter’s Sandro Mazzola at the Praterstadion in Vienna. Mazzola and Aurelio Milani gave Madrid a two-goal cushion and, though Felo pulled one back, Mazzola’s second of the evening made the game safe.
1966: Real Madrid 2-1 Partizan
(Amancio Amaro 70, Serena 76; Vasović 55)
Partizan became the first Eastern European team to reach the final but Madrid proved too strong in Brussels. Velibor Vasović gave the Yugoslavian side the lead, but goals in the final 20 minutes from Amancio Amaro and Fernando Serena ensured Madrid – captained by Gento, in his sixth final – took the trophy again.
1981: Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid
(Kennedy 81)
In contrast to their early dominance of the competition, Madrid had to wait 15 years for their next final appearance. This time the Parc des Princes did not prove a happy hunting ground, Alan Kennedy’s late goal ensuring Liverpool continued England’s European Cup purple patch.
1998: Real Madrid 1-0 Juventus
(Mijatović 66)
Again Madrid had to endure a lengthy wait before returning to the final, making their first appearance of the Champions League era at the Amsterdam ArenA. One goal proved enough for a seventh crown, Predrag Mijatović scoring midway through the second half to claim ‘La Séptima’.
2000: Real Madrid 3-0 Valencia
(Morientes 39, McManaman 67, Raúl 75)
Having waited 32 years for their seventh title, just two years later Madrid made it eight in the first European Cup final between teams from the same country. Fernando Morientes headed them in front at the Stade de France just before half-time, and second-half goals from Steve McManaman and Raúl González ended Valencia’s challenge.
2002: Real Madrid 2-1 Leverkusen
(Lúcio 13; Raúl 8, Zidane 45)
Back at the scene of their most famous European Cup triumph, Hampden Park, Madrid claimed the crown again for a third triumph in five years. Raúl became the first player to score in two Champions League finals early on and, though Lúcio quickly equalised, Zinédine Zidane’s iconic volley proved a fitting winner.
2014: Real Madrid 4–1 Atlético (aet)
(Ramos 90+3, Bale 110, Marcelo 118, Ronaldo 120pen; Godín 36)
In the first final between teams from the same city, Real Madrid completed ‘La Décima’ by becoming European champions for the tenth time, though the scoreline looked deceptively emphatic. Carlo Ancelotti’s side trailed until deep into second-half added time, but Sergio Ramos’s headed equaliser set up an extra-time bonanza in Lisbon.
2016: Real Madrid 1–1 Atlético (aet, 5–3pen)
(Ramos 15; Carrasco 79)
Zidane scored the stunning winner in the 2002 final and won the first of three titles as Madrid coach at San Siro. Yannick Carrasco managed to cancel out Ramos’s opener, but Real Madrid held their nerve after goalless extra time, Cristiano Ronaldo converting the decisive penalty after Juanfran hit the post for Atlético.
2017: Real Madrid 4–1 Juventus
(Mandžukić 27; Ronaldo 20 64, Casemiro 61, Asensio 90)
Ronaldo’s deflected opener was slightly against the run of play in Cardiff, and Mario Mandžukić’s equaliser was stunning, but Juventus ran out of steam after the interval. Casemiro’s long-range shot was deflected past Gianluigi Buffon, and Ronaldo swiftly crashed in Madrid’s third to end the final as a contest.
2018: Real Madrid 3–1 Liverpool
(Benzema 51, Bale 64 83; Mané 55)
Karim Benzema seized on a Loris Karius throw to break the deadlock, but Sadio Mané swiftly got Jürgen Klopp’s side back on terms in Kyiv. However, the night was to belong to substitute Gareth Bale who scored an unforgettable overhead kick soon after replacing Isco before finding the target again from a distance.
2022: Liverpool 0-1 Real Madrid
(Vinícius Júnior 59)
Vinícius Júnior scored the only goal as Madrid beat Liverpool in Saint-Denis to win the European Cup for the 14th time. The Brazilian international turned in Federico Valverde’s cross-shot at the back post just before the hour to clinch victory for Ancelotti’s team, making the Italian the first coach to win the trophy four times.
Where Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid could be won and lost
Selection dilemmas and key contests out wide are among the finer details of the UEFA Champions League final we put under the microscope.
Will Dortmund’s defence remain stable?
Dortmund did not concede a goal in two games against the often prolific Paris Saint-Germain attack in the semi-finals.
The factors behind their success are an incredibly reliable goalkeeper in Gregor Kobel, two centre-backs who have been in top form recently in Mats Hummels and Nico Schlotterbeck, and an aggressive team defence that starts with striker Niclas Füllkrug up front. If their rearguard action works again, it could be difficult for Madrid. If not, as we saw in Dortmund’s game at Atlético de Madrid, it will be difficult.
Who gets the nod in goal for Madrid?
The key conundrum for Madrid is, unquestionably, in goal. Andriy Lunin is the unsung hero of this campaign; superb against Leipzig in both legs, defiant in normal time, extra time and penalties against Manchester City, then crucial against Bayern.
Thibaut Courtois, so long as he’s fit, deserves to start because of hierarchy. Carlo Ancelotti believes the Belgian is the world’s top No1 but, having been out for 95% of the season, is there a danger that starting someone who was Player of the Match in Madrid’s last Champions League final, two years ago in Saint-Denis, might be a risk?
Good luck with the decision Mr Ancelotti.
Can Dortmund’s wide men cause Madrid problems?
It is no secret that Dortmund’s wingers Jadon Sancho and Karim Adeyemi are fundamental weapons in BVB’s offence. If Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy can get to grips with the Black and Yellows’ pacy players, they will take a lot of the punch out of Dortmund’s attacking play. If not, these two have already proved in the competition this season how much of a handful they can be.
But Madrid’s full-backs are committed to relentlessly attacking high up the pitch.
This has often been a match-winning tactic but, in this game, it is important to note that Dortmund’s wingers will have huge opportunities to probe in behind Ancelotti’s full-backs and, at least in Edin Terzić’s game plan, try to wreak havoc.
Madrid’s midfield up to the challenge?
Madrid’s midfield is normally a big strength and very feasibly a game-winning plus point here too.
But it looks extremely unlikely that Aurelién Tchouaméni will be fit. That’s a loss. Then there’s the news which has been greeted with an outpouring of appreciation across the football community – Toni Kroos’ decision to retire after UEFA EURO 2024.
Will that, in any way, affect his mentality? Might the experience of saying goodbye to ten fabulous years with Madrid in a Champions League final be overwhelming? You would think, and hope, not. And for the unrivalled star of Madrid’s season, Jude Bellingham, this is, nonetheless, his first Champions League final – at Wembley no less. Challenges galore.
Which Dortmund player will lead from the front?
With only three goals in 12 games, Füllkrug is BVB’s top scorer in the current Champions League season.
Four Madrid stars – Rodrygo, Vinícius Júnior, Joselu and Bellingham – have all scored more so the question is, will Dortmund be able to find a solution in front of goal without a classic talisman up front when things get tight?
Dortmund have had 12 different scorers in the competition this season to Madrid’s eight so perhaps a widespread goal threat might work to their advantage.
Matthias Rötters
And on that note, we wrap up this Champions League final preview.
