Borussia Dortmund, with departing legend Marco Reus, take on Real Madrid led by ex-BVB man Jude Bellingham in the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley. - © DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga
Borussia Dortmund, with departing legend Marco Reus, take on Real Madrid led by ex-BVB man Jude Bellingham in the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley. - © DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga
Borussia Dortmund's incredible 2023/24 European journey has put them within one step of lifting the UEFA Champions League against Real Madrid in what promises to be a thrilling final at Wembley on Saturday, 1 June (kick-off: 9pm CEST).
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The Champions League has long been a bright spot on Dortmund's season of ups and downs, but history now beckons after their sensational progress through the knockout stages. Few expected them to go this far, but after keeping two clean sheets in the semi-finals against a star-studded PSG side, nobody could now rule them out of lifting the trophy in London. Edin Terzićis expecting a near full squad to choose from, with English duo Jadon Sancho and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens shaking off illness and injury concerns to appear in a 4-0 win against Darmstadt on the Bundesliga's final matchday. Donyell Malen scored his second goal in three games in that, having not seen any action in the Champions League quarter-finals or semi-finals due to injury. Mats Hummels will be relishing the chance to keep out Real Madrid's attacking might alongside Nico Schlotterbeck. After bidding an emotional farewell to the Dortmund fans against Darmstadt, the iconic Marco Reus has the chance to draw the curtain on his time at the club in the best possible style by claiming their second Champions League crown.
While Dortmund might be picking up a reputation as Champions League specialists, the mastery 14-time winners Real Madrid have of the competition needs little introduction. The pressure is on the Spanish side though to live up to their favourites' tag in many quarters. The Black and Yellows will certainly have a few ideas of how to stop Real's top scorer this season, with Jude Bellingham moving to the Spanish capital from Dortmund last summer. With fellow midfield talent Aurélien Tchouaméni injured, the experience of Germany's Toni Kroos could be key for Real. FormerBayern Munich defender David Alaba is a long-term absentee with a cruciate ligament injury, with defensive hopes resting largely instead on Antonio Rüdiger, formerly of VfB Stuttgart and the Borussia academy. Real coach Carlo Ancelotti also had a spell at Bayern for over a year from 2016 to 2017.
Watch: The story of BVB legend Marco Reus
Match stats
- Dortmund are competing in their third Champions League final, after winining it in 1996/97 against Juventus and losing to Bayern 2012/13.
- Reus is one surviving member of the team that lost to Bayern at Wembley 11 years ago. He is set to make his 429th and final appearance for the club.
- The other survivor is Hummels, who has made 114 ball recoveries in this season's competition - the most of any player. Centre back partner Schlotterbeck is second on 77.
- Only Antwerp (17) have conceded more goals than Madrid's (15) in this year's competition. Conversely, Dortmund have conceded just nine, by far the fewest of any team to make it past the quarter-final stage. Their six clean sheets are also the most of any team, with Madrid on three.
- Dortmund could make it a double for German teams in UEFA competition this season, if Bayer Leverkusen also win the UEFA Europa League. The last time that happened was in 1997, when BVB won the Champions League and arch-rivalsSchalkelifted the now defunct UEFA Cup.
- Real have won only one of six previous Champions League meetings with Dortmund not played in Madrid (D3, L3).
Probable line-ups
Dortmund: Kobel - Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen - Sabitzer, Can (c) - Sancho, Brandt, Adeyemi - Füllkrug
Out: Bensebaini (knee), Duranville (muscular), Morey (unknown)
Doubtful: Haller (ankle)
Coach: Edin Terzić
Real Madrid: Courtois - Carvajal, Rüdiger, Nacho (c), Mendy - Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos - Bellingham - Rodrygo, Vinícius
Out: Alaba (knee), Tchouaméni (foot)
Doubtful: -
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
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Sat, 01.06 19:00
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Champions League
Final Final Wembley, London
Terzić on Real
The Dortmund coach has also been talking to UEFA this week, saying of his Spanish opposition: "We're up against an extremely strong team who have had this experience frequently, but we know that anything is possible in one match. If we played against Real Madrid ten times, it would probably be a stretch [to win overall], but in one match... we're capable of beating any opponents in the world."
© Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Bundesliga
Ancelotti on Dortmund
Former Bayern boss Ancelotti has been speaking to UEFA.com ahead of his Real side's showdown with BVB: "They have put in some great performances in the previous rounds, defeating very strong teams like Atlético de Madrid and Paris. They are a very solid and close-knit team with great players. Their defensive display against Paris surprised me."
© THOMAS COEX
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Watch: Dortmund one win from glory
Can the BVB dream become reality this weekend?
Borussia Dortmund vs. Real Madrid
The UEFA Champions League final is almost upon us, with Dortmund going in search of history when they meet Real in London on 1 June (kick-off: 9pm CEST). Stay with bundesliga.com throughout the days building-up to the showpiece for all the latest updates as well as live coverage on matchday.
© DFL
How they got here: Dortmund
Despite finishing fifth in the Bundesliga, Dortmund have been mightily impressive in the Champions League. After topping the fabled 'Group of Death' ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Newcastle United, BVB recorded a 3-1 aggregate win over PSV Eindhoven in the last 16. They suffered only their second defeat in this season's competition in the first leg of their quarter-final tie with Atlético Madrid, only to roar back and win 4-2 at Signal Iduna Park. A reunion with PSG followed, with Edin Terzić masterminding a pair of 1-0 wins to book Dortmund's place in their third Champions League final.
© FRANCK FIFE
How they got here: Real Madrid
The record winners scraped past Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, recovering from a goal down in the second leg to record a 3-2 aggregate win. Prior to that, they knocked out holders Manchester City on penalties, having edged past RB Leipzig 2-1 on aggregate in the round of 16. In the groups, Carlo Ancelotti's team beat Union Berlin, Braga and Napoli home and away.
Welcome!
It's Borussia Dortmund against Real Madrid in the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League final at Wembley Stadium. Stay tuned for build-up, match coverage and reaction!
About the clubs
