With the UEFA Champions League final just days away, final preparations are undoubtedly underway for the last two remaining teams in Europe’s top club competition. Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund will face each other at London’s Wembley Stadium on June 1 after a season worth remembering for both teams. The former won La Liga for the first time in two years this season and wrapped up the title with weeks left in the calendar thanks to their domestic dominance, which saw them lose just once in the competition. The latter may have dropped to fifth in the Bundesliga this season, but has enjoyed great success in European competition, reaching the final for the first time since the 2013 showcase, which also took place at Wembley.
Here’s what you need to know about this season’s Champions League finalists.
How they got here
Borussia Dortmund: Edin Terzic’s side are the Cinderella story of the Champions League, largely because they ousted a handful of high-profile teams and reached their first final in eleven years. Their tough journey to Wembley began with them leading the most competitive group of the season, starting their season with a 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, but remaining unbeaten in the next five games, topping a group that also included AC Milan and Newcastle United were among them. Perhaps their first statement win was the 3-1 victory in Milan, which almost certainly guaranteed their top spot in Group F.
Although they missed the luck of the group stage draw, the randomly chosen ties in the early parts of the knockout stages favored Dortmund. They surpassed PSV with a 3–1 aggregate victory in the round of 16 and overcame their own defensive weaknesses to beat an inconsistent Atletico Madrid team with a dramatic 5–4 aggregate victory in the quarter-finals. Their most impressive performance, however, was their win over PSG in the semi-finals, demonstrating impressive defensive resolve by holding Kylian Mbappe’s side goalless in a 2–0 aggregate win.
Real Madrid: While Dortmund’s final was unlikely, Real Madrid’s was unstoppable. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have looked uneven all season but have survived every challenge and will now arrive in London as the favorites to win their 15th Champions League title.
Their Champions League campaign started with a fairly straightforward group stage, topping a group that included Napoli, Braga and winless newcomers Union Berlin. Winning margins narrowed in the knockout rounds, but Real Madrid’s ability to outplay the opposition usually saw them gain the upper hand, as their 2–1 aggregate win over RB Leipzig in the round of 16 and their 4– 3 victory over Bayern Munich in the semi-finals. will demonstrate. Their toughest task was undoubtedly ousting reigning champions Manchester City in the quarter-finals. The 3-3 first leg showcased the scoring prowess of both sides, but the 1-1 second leg required a defensive determination from Real Madrid that allowed them to advance on penalties.
