Real Madrid narrowly squeezed past Bayern Munich this past Wednesday in a thrilling 2-1 Champions League semifinal. Despite scoring first through Alphonso Davies, the athletic and prolific winger, Real Madrid came back to win 2-1 thanks to a heroic effort from Joselu in the last four minutes of the game.
It is no wonder that all of Spain and La Liga fans began to celebrate as soon as the final whistle was blown. Spaniards and Madrid aficionados took to the streets to party, have a few drinks, and celebrate Carlo Ancelotti’s team for making it to yet another Champions League final, this time in Wembley in London, England.
If you were lucky enough to take part in the celebrations yesterday, then you may have seen the iconic No. 15 jersey floating around the supporters. But what does this mean?
Real Madrid Iconic No. 15 Jersey
🔥 Waking up today like…#APorLa15 | #UCL pic.twitter.com/4tIR2GFQB8
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) May 9, 2024
Real Madrid’s well-known #15 jersey isn’t the #15 for a player, year, or occasion, but it is a full saying. These traditional jerseys say ‘A Por La 15’, which means that Madrid is going for their 15th European Cup. Real Madrid has been so dominant in European competitions since the inception of the club that they are always contenders for the CL trophy every single year.
Therefore, Real’s fans know that they have a chance to add the 15th European Cup trophy to their cabinets if they beat Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on June 1st. Since they won their 13th European Cup in 2021, they went for the ‘lucky’ number 14 in 2022 during the next final, beating Liverpool to the heartbreak of Reds’ fans everywhere around the world.
After the stunning victory against the Merseyside team, they had A Por La 14 on the back of their shirts.
Now, that number has changed to 15.
Also Read: 5 Shocking secrets behind Dortmund success in the Champions League
A Por La 15 Shirts for the Real Madrid Players
Since Real Madrid has a tradition of making customized jerseys to represent each potential European Cup, we do not doubt that the players will start to wear these personalized shirts leading up to – and after (if they win) – the Champions League final.
The only thing that stands in their way of raising another trophy is Borussia Dortmund, the German Bundesliga team with superstars like Jadon Sancho and Marco Reus.
But, even with tough players, Ancelotti believes that his talented squad can claim the victory. Real Madrid has incredible players, like Jude Bellingham, Joselu, and Vinicius Jr. Their come-behind win shows that even when people think the Spanish team is out for the count, they can turn it around in no time at all.
Plus, their track record speaks for itself. They have 14 European Cup and Champions League Titles – double the team in second place, AC Milan. Most recently, Real Madrid made it to the semifinal last year and lost to Manchester City, no doubt spurring their anger and fuel to make it to the Final match for the 2023-2024 Champions League penultimate game.
It doesn’t mean they are going to easily get the trophy, however. Dortmund currently sit 5th in the Bundesliga and have come off of a huge win against PSG in the UEFA Champions League semifinal, giving the team plenty of confidence after beating a squad with Mbappe, Dembele, and Navas.
Can Bellingham and his squad make it number 15 for the trophy cabinet? Tune in on June 1st to find out.
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.
