Champions League Final: Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid

Dortmund surprised many by being the first team to qualify from a challenging Group F. Despite a rocky start with a 2-0 loss at Paris and a 0-0 draw at home against Milan, they turned things around with two consecutive wins against Newcastle without conceding a goal. A strong performance in Milan secured their qualification with one game to spare.

BVB demonstrated resilience under intense pressure from PSV in the last-16 return leg, advancing to the quarter-finals where they narrowly defeated Atlético de Madrid in a thrilling match. Their dominant performance against Paris in the subsequent rounds showed that Dortmund are formidable opponents for any team.

When Dortmund gain momentum, they become difficult to stop. Despite initial setbacks in the first leg in Eindhoven and again in Madrid, they were spurred on by their enthusiastic supporters and managed to prevail each time. Against Paris, they displayed their growth into a cohesive unit over the season, capable of making a significant impact with minimal opportunities.

Aware of the challenges ahead, BVB adopted a counterattacking strategy with a back three in their first group match against Paris. During the match, they switched to a more traditional setup by bringing on a natural striker, which immediately improved their game. Since then, they have consistently used a back four and three central midfielders, with speedy wingers like Donyell Malen, Karim Adeyemi, and Jadon Sancho playing key roles. This formation allows Dortmund to both progress the ball and press effectively.

Edin Terzić started his coaching career in Dortmund's academy in 2010. He served as interim first-team coach during the 2020/21 season, leading BVB to a German Cup victory over Leipzig and coming close to dethroning Bayern Munich the following season.

Julian Brandt, one of the Bundesliga's most reliable and impressive players, joined Dortmund after five-and-a-half seasons at Leverkusen. Now 27, the German international has spent four years at BVB, consistently making at least 40 appearances each season and scoring double-digit goals last term. He is the team's linchpin whenever he's on the field.

This is Dortmund's first final since the 2012/13 season, when they lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich at Wembley under Jürgen Klopp.

On the other hand, Real Madrid have been thrilling to watch throughout the tournament. Their nerve-wracking and intense moments, which characterized their perfect group stage, became even more pronounced in the knockout rounds. Goalkeeper Andriy Lunin played a crucial role in eliminating Leipzig and was particularly outstanding against Manchester City, especially during the penalty shootout. Joselu also contributed significantly with his late goals to overcome Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.

Real Madrid thrives on stress, pride, ambition, dramatic comebacks, and the grandeur necessary to win this trophy. No other team has the same unwavering desire to win the Champions League. Even if other European teams are in better form, Madrid's top players – Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, Toni Kroos, and possibly the returning Thibaut Courtois and Éder Militão – are hitting their peak at the perfect time.

Madrid's current formation is predominantly a 4-4-2, although injuries have forced some adjustments. Ancelotti, who typically used a 4-3-3 formation, has utilized his abundant midfield talent effectively. Jude Bellingham, alternating between the left side defensively and the tip of the midfield diamond in possession, has been crucial, attacking the box and scoring. Madrid are arguably the best counterattacking team in Europe.

Carlo Ancelotti, who led Madrid to their 10th Champions League title in 2014, returned for a second stint in 2021. He made history by becoming the first coach to win the European Cup/Champions League four times and guided Madrid to the La Liga title in 2021/22, making him the first coach to win league titles in Italy, England, France, Germany, and Spain.

Jude Bellingham's move to Madrid was one of the most notable transfers of the summer. Inheriting Zinédine Zidane's iconic No. 5 shirt, he has lived up to high expectations. Despite dealing with shoulder and ankle issues, the young Englishman has continued to impress with his goals, assists, and passionate connection with the Madrid fans.

Real Madrid have reached their 18th European Cup/Champions League final, which is seven more than any other team (Bayern Munich and AC Milan have each reached 11).