- Borussia Dortmund faces a monumental challenge in the Champions League final against a star-studded Real Madrid at Wembley
- Real Madrid, aiming for their 15th European title, are favorites, having displayed clutch performances under Carlo Ancelotti this season
Borussia Dortmund face a monumental challenge in the Champions League final today as they take on a star-studded Real Madrid at Wembley. Real Madrid, aiming to secure their 15th European title, is the clear favourites against a Dortmund side that has defied the odds to reach the final.
Real Madrid’s reputation for clutch performances in the Champions League has been fully displayed this season. Under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti, they overcame defending champions Manchester City in the quarterfinals through penalties. They pulled off a legendary comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu to defeat Bayern Munich in the semifinals.
Madrid’s confidence is well-founded. They have lost only twice in 54 matches this season, securing the La Liga title by a comfortable 10-point margin and defeating Barcelona 4-1 to claim the Spanish Super Cup.
Jude Bellingham, who transferred from Dortmund to Real Madrid 12 months ago, epitomizes the challenge Dortmund faces. As a teenager, Bellingham left Birmingham for Dortmund, developed his skills in Germany, and then moved to Madrid for a transfer fee exceeding 100 million euros ($109 million).
Reflecting on his move, Bellingham said, “I came here because I wanted to win and to expect it. It is almost a bit greedy, but you have to be confident when playing with so many great players.”
Without Bellingham, Dortmund struggled domestically, finishing fifth in the Bundesliga, 27 points behind champions Bayer Leverkusen. However, under the leadership of Edin Terzic, they have excelled in the Champions League, reaching the final for the third time in the club’s history and the first since losing to Bayern Munich at Wembley 11 years ago.
The stage is set for a thrilling encounter, as Dortmund’s fairytale run meets Real Madrid’s pursuit of further European glory.
Discussion about this post