Champions League final: The Athletic’s guide to Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid

Comply with reside protection of Actual Madrid vs Dortmund within the Champions League ultimate immediately

Welcome to matchday. The Champions League ultimate between Actual Madrid and Borussia Dortmund kicks off at Wembley Stadium in London at 8pm native time (3pm ET) tonight.

Madrid, one of many recreation’s most embellished golf equipment and a powerhouse on the elite stage, tackle Dortmund, this season’s fifth-best facet in Germany who’ve punched above their weight to get right here. The winners will likely be topped champions of Europe.

Wherever you might be on the earth, we’ve received you lined. On this piece, you’ll find all the things you’ll want to know concerning the largest fixture in membership soccer, from tactical speaking factors to offers with the satan.

Let’s dive in…

Will the ‘Kings of Europe’ add one other crown?

Victory at Wembley would safe a fifteenth European Cup/Champions League title for Madrid. They’re the competitors’s most profitable membership by fairly some margin (AC Milan are subsequent with seven titles) and their particular maintain on the trophy has been a scorching subject throughout The Athletic this week.

Simply how do they do it?

The membership’s die-hard followers will inform you what it’s all about: the irresistible energy of their love story with continental-level glory. Banners on the Santiago Bernabeu hail the ‘Kings of Europe’.

The character of a few of their current outcomes — comeback after comeback, late objective after late objective — definitely provides oxygen to that declare. There may be an oft-repeated half-joke even amongst extra analytical observers that it’s merely not possible to clarify Madrid’s success, that every one makes an attempt at inquiry will likely be rendered futile, or worse, by an inevitable stoppage-time turnaround or another bolt from the blue. Like this one:

Tremendous-sub Joselu wins it ⚽️#UCL pic.twitter.com/R1AnNKU9nj

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 9, 2024

Ahmed Walid, Mark Carey and John Muller answered the burning query: are Madrid actually not possible to analyse?

Jacob Whitehead and Guillermo Rai took a distinct strategy: a deep dive that features encounters with the membership’s religious and superstitious fanbase — in addition to the musings of mystics. Is there some sort of increased energy at work?

Dermot Corrigan reminded us that earlier than the miracle of ‘La Decima’ — their tenth European Cup, received in supremely dramatic circumstances — the storytelling round Madrid was actually fairly completely different. Rigidity round reaching the elusive landmark reached feverish fury throughout years of failure that noticed a number of managers fall.

So Dortmund don’t have an opportunity?

Faustian bargains apart, there may be one clear motive why Madrid are favourites: they’ve the stronger squad.

The rankings above, based mostly on a mannequin devised by sports activities intelligence agency Twenty First Group, assist present Madrid’s higher hand.

However soccer is a sport that always springs surprises — particularly in knockout tournaments. Simply have a look at Dortmund’s semi-final victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

Within the first leg in opposition to Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho was sensational, and never for the primary time since returning to his former membership.

Sancho this season 🤤@Sanchooo10 || #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/kNMr6OBoZM

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 30, 2024

Sancho, together with Karim Adeyemi and Donyell Malen, gives the tempo to enrich Niclas Fullkrug in Dortmund’s assault — a centre-forward Alan Shearer admires. They’ve had nice success enjoying on the break, however their run to the ultimate has been grounded in defensive solidity.

The German facet have conceded simply 9 objectives of their 12 matches and stored six clear sheets — their most within the Champions League since 1997-98, after they have been defending their European title and received to the semi-finals earlier than dropping to… Actual Madrid.

That 1997 victory is Dortmund’s solely Champions League success. They have been runners-up in 2013 in opposition to Bayern Munich — and that ultimate was additionally held at Wembley.

Not many fancy them to tug off an upset, however they’ve already defied the chances to get right here.

What to look out for — Madrid’s left wing

Dortmund did trigger a shock by knocking out PSG — who missed probability after probability within the return leg in Paris — however Madrid will likely be a distinct proposition.

As we’ve touched on, regardless that Madrid do appear to thrive in moments of struggling and infrequently rating objectives in opposition to the run of play, there may be nonetheless a technique behind the mayhem.

Ancelotti’s use of a 4-4-2 diamond in possession has allowed loads of rotations on the prime finish of the sphere. These are usually skewed in the direction of the left flank.

Within the Champions League this season, 42 per cent of Madrid’s attacking touches have been channelled down their left third of the pitch, the place Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo have been taking it in turns to torment the opposition full-back.

They’ve additionally opened up a brand new world for Jude Bellingham.

The €103million (£80m; $111m) summer time signing — he joined from Dortmund and that preliminary payment may rise to a membership report with variables — has slowed his scoring considerably of late, however nonetheless none of his team-mates have scored extra (with 23, he’s degree with Vinicius Jr in all competitions).

You in all probability don’t want us to inform you to control Bellingham. The 20-year-old’s switch market worth was not too long ago estimated at a world-leading €280million by the CIES Soccer Observatory, a Swiss analysis group. However you may not be as aware of him as our La Liga writers, who not too long ago shared what they’ve discovered from his debut season.

All this firepower up entrance, with Endrick already signed and Kylian Mbappe anticipated to affix him…

The managers in cost

Let’s point out Carlo Ancelotti first. When he leads Madrid out at Wembley to face Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, will probably be his sixth Champions League ultimate as a supervisor and his 1,324th recreation within the dugout throughout his profession.

He already holds the report for many Champions League trophies received as a supervisor (4). It will likely be his 204th match accountable for the competitors — one other report.

And but, regardless of all this, as Dermot Corrigan wrote not too long ago, there stays an concept that the 64-year-old is just not actually a prime coach. Does he get the credit score he deserves?

Dortmund boss Edin Terzic, 41, was born within the native area to a Bosnian father and Croatian mom who settled after arriving as ‘gastarbeiters’ (guestworkers). He grew up as a Dortmund fan and that is the one workforce he has managed in a senior place.

One yr in the past, he cried in entrance of the workforce’s Yellow Wall block of followers as they simply missed out on profitable the league title. This season, he got here near dropping his job, twice. He has confronted opposition from his personal supporters and, at completely different instances, from two of his most senior gamers.

However Dortmund have nonetheless crushed groups they have been by no means alleged to on their approach to tonight’s assembly with Madrid.

The trail to the ultimate

New La Liga champions Madrid certified for the knockout stage forward of Napoli, SC Braga and Union Berlin. Dortmund, who completed fifth within the German prime flight, got here by way of the ‘group of loss of life’, ending above PSG, AC Milan and Newcastle.

Within the final 16, Madrid beat RB Leipzig 2-1 on mixture, whereas Dortmund noticed off PSV Eindhoven with a 3-1 mixture win. Then the trail to the ultimate was set.

Dortmund would be the nominal ‘dwelling’ workforce at Wembley and can play of their traditional yellow and black equipment. Madrid will put on their well-known all-white.

Find out how to watch

Based on UEFA, the sport will likely be proven in additional than 200 territories and can attain 450million individuals worldwide, with an estimated international common viewership of round 145m.

The ultimate will likely be broadcast in the US on CBS/Paramount+. TNT Sports activities’ take care of UEFA means the broadcaster has to make the Champions League ultimate free to view within the UK.

Auf wiedersehen and adios

Let’s say goodbye — or so long — with a ultimate phrase on two departing membership legends.

Toni Kroos will play his final match for Actual Madrid in Saturday’s showpiece, bringing an finish to 10 exceptional years on the membership, all the time lived on his phrases. He’s nonetheless going sturdy, however has determined to retire from soccer after enjoying for Germany at this summer time’s dwelling 2024 European Championship.

Kroos, 34, is considered one of 4 Madrid gamers (together with Nacho, Luka Modric and Dani Carvajal) who may win a joint-record sixth Champions League medal.

That may carry them degree with Paco Gento. No person has greater than the previous Madrid winger, who died aged 88 in 2022. He was a key a part of the facet that claimed the primary 5 editions of the competitors (when it was the European Cup) from 1956-1960, including one other in 1966.

Like Kroos, Marco Reus may even be bowing out at Wembley. The 35-year-old Dortmund legend fittingly scored a free kick in his ultimate dwelling match earlier this month, his one hundred and seventieth objective for the membership in 12 years.

Reus performed in that 2013 ultimate defeat by Bayern, which was Kroos’ first style of success within the competitors.

Lastly profitable the membership recreation’s largest prize can be some ship off, earlier than he maybe strikes on to MLS.

(Prime picture: Brendan Moran – Sportsfile/UEFA by way of Getty Photos)