The Champions League Final is one of the most highly anticipated sporting events of the entire year. The two best teams in the entire world face off against one another to see who is the best on the globe. Teams from around the world all compete at a domestic level to see if they can earn one of the top spots in their country. Then, they all play against one another in CL qualifiers to move on to grueling Group Stages.
Then, the knockout rounds determine who will make it to the quarterfinals, semi-finals, and – ultimately – the final stage. This year, it is Borussia Dortmund, the German Bundesliga giants, versus Real Madrid, the team that has won the Champions League the most out of any team in the world.
So, that begs to question – does Borussia Dortmund stand a chance?
Champions League: Borussia Dortmund vs. Real Madrid
🎙️ Terzic:
"Our goal is to win the Champions League. To achieve that, you have to beat the champions. Anything is possible in one game. We want to break Real Madrid's streak on Saturday."#UCLFinal
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) May 28, 2024
One of the main reasons that Borussia Dortmund has a fighting chance against Real Madrid in the Champions League is thanks to their coach, the fiery and passionate Edin Terzic. Terzic has something to prove, as he missed out on winning the German Bundesliga this year with his squad and wants to show the soccer world that his team deserves a trophy.
Borussia somehow managed to defy all odds and progress from arguably the toughest group stage in the competition, beating out teams like PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid. Borussia beat PSV in their two legs, one home and one away, and managed to get other results to go their way, like the match-up between PSG and Atletico.
But, we can’t just think that Borussia got here from Terzic’s willpower and luck alone. No, Terzic has expertly crafted his team to play to the strengths of every single person on the grass at the same time. He has utilized the tactical awareness of Marco Reus, the leadership of Mats Hummels, the speed of Jadon Sancho, and the scoring ability of Niclas Fullkrug, a little-known hero who was playing in the Bundesliga 2 only a couple of years ago.
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Real Madrid Has Better Odds
Of course, no team in the world has better odds of winning the Champions League Final than Real Madrid. They have only lost the final match three times in their entire career in the CL final – which has been a whopping 18 times – and that was to Liverpool, Benfica, and Inter Milan. But, that isn’t to say they are used to losing – their last loss in the CL final was more than 40 years ago, so Dortmund will have to break the record books if they want to upset Real Madrid.
But, they do have a chance. Real Madrid’s journey to get to the Champions League final wasn’t as easy as one would have thought. Bellingham didn’t do as well in the Champions League games as he did in the league, Rodrygo fell out of form in the new formation, and Courtois, the main keeper, was injured for the majority of the season.
Therefore, we think it is very slim, but possible, that Dortmund could edge out Real Madrid. Currently, the betting odds are standing at a Real Madrid victory with odds of 1.663, with Borussia Dortmund’s odds standing firm at 5.49. But, we have seen crazier upsets happen in football.
About the Author
Emma is an athlete and sports fan who currently plays professional soccer. Growing up, she reached a high level in track and field, distance running, and soccer on both club and university teams.
