Borussia Dortmund will have a formidable opponent in today’s Champions League final at Wembley when they play Real Madrid, a team full of superstars. Real Madrid is the overwhelming favorite to win their 15th European championship against a Dortmund team that has overcome all odds to get to the championship game. This season, Real Madrid has lived up to its reputation as a team that produces clutch Champions League performances. They defeated the reigning champions Manchester City in the quarterfinals thanks to penalties, under Carlo Ancelotti’s direction. They defeated Bayern Munich in the semifinals at the Santiago Bernabeu with a historic comeback.
Madrid has good reason to be confident. They defeated Barcelona 4-1 to win the Spanish Super Cup, and they have only lost twice in 54 games this season. They also won La Liga by a comfortable 10-point margin. Jude Bellingham, who moved to Real Madrid from Dortmund a year ago, embodies the difficulty Dortmund faces. Bellingham moved to Dortmund as a youth, honing his craft there, and then to Madrid for a transfer fee that over 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.
There is expected to be a battle of divergent styles, ideologies, and history in the Champions League final at Wembley. Real Madrid is the favorite, aiming for a record-tying 15th European championship, but Borussia Dortmund’s run has demonstrated that everything is achievable in the game of football. Dortmund will want to pull off one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history while the entire world watches. Regardless of the outcome, their incredible run to the championship game will live on as a tribute to the strength of belief, camaraderie, and the lovely unpredictable nature of football. Whether this is the start of a new chapter in Real Madrid’s glorious history or a new era for Dortmund will be decided by the last whistle. Fans are in for a treat either way.
