Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid face off in the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday as both sides aim for a historic end to a memorable season.
Madrid are chasing a record 15th Champions League title at the end of a domestic and continental campaign of dominance and go into the final as heavy favorites to win. Dortmund are no slouch, however, beating Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals on their way to their first final since 2013. Their Cinderella story could be a major challenge for the Spanish giants, who have overcome every obstacle they have faced in this season’s Champions League encounter. League, but looked unbalanced and imperfect on several occasions.
So there is a possibility that the ninety minutes on the clock may not be enough to settle the battle for the biggest trophy in European club football. Here are the rules ahead of Saturday’s big game.
What happens if the match is tied after 90 minutes?
If the scores are level after 90 minutes plus injury time, the teams must immediately play 30 minutes of extra time. The half hour is split into two periods of 15 minutes with a small break for half-time or extra time, and the entire period is played in full. There will no longer be a golden goal in extra time since the rule was abolished in 2004.
What happens if the match is tied after 120 minutes?
If the match remains tied after extra time, the teams will immediately participate in a penalty shootout. A coin toss initiated by the referee will decide who goes first and the two teams will take turns lining up for penalty kicks. The shootout starts with each team having five attempts to score and win the match, but if the score is tied after five rounds, the shootout switches to a sudden death format. At that point, the next round could be the last if one team converts and the other doesn’t.
The teams will continue to take penalties until eventually one has the lead, ending the match.
