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Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund: UEFA Champions League 2024 Final Predictions

The final of club football’s greatest competition – the UEFA Champions League is set and 14-time winners Real Madrid will face German titans Borussia Dortmund, who make their first final appearance since their infamous defeat in 2013, under the Wembley arch.

Under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid go into the fixture as overwhelming favorites, fresh off their historic 36th La Liga triumph.

In stark contrast, Edin Terzic’s Dortmund, who just a season ago squandered the league title, currently find themselves battling for a spot in next season’s tournament, currently residing 5th in the Bundesliga, a distant 24 points behind the unbeaten champions, Bayer Leverkusen.

Despite a somewhat underwhelming campaign,, the 1997 UCL winners have defied the odds to reach the 2024 final.

Die Schwarzgelben are eager to redeem their loss against Bayern Munich in the 2013 final, seeking victory at the second attempt in Wembley.

For Real Madrid, the motivation remains constant upon reaching the Champions League final: to further widen the chasm between them and the next most successful club, AC Milan, who trail with seven titles. ‘A Por La 15’ is the cry from Los Blancos as victory would secure their unprecedented 15th crown.

The highly anticipated fixture, slated for June 1st, marks the first encounter at this stage of the tournament for both teams. To ensure you’re fully immersed in the excitement, FLOS provides a glimpse into each team’s remarkable journey from the group stages to the grand final of the Champions League.


Madrid and Dortmund’s road to the final

Amidst a barrage of injuries that initially plagued the La Liga powerhouse (including the likes of Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba, and Eder Militao), Real Madrid smoothly sailed into the knockout rounds, clinching victory in all six Group C matches against Braga, Napoli, and Union Berlin.

Ancelotti’s squad, who last hoisted the trophy in 2022 after a 1-0 victory over Liverpool in Paris, netted 16 goals while conceding seven, making their group stage campaign seem almost routine in hindsight.

On the flip side, Borussia Dortmund, despite topping the notorious ‘group of death’ that was Group F, did not have the smoothest journey navigating through the group stages . Home and away victories against Newcastle United proved pivotal in Dortmund’s qualification from a group that also included French champions Paris Saint-Germain and Italian giants, AC Milan.

While Madrid dazzled with their scoring prowess in the group stage, Dortmund managed just seven goals but compensated with a solid defense, conceding only four.

Both teams had to fight their way through the challenges of the knockout rounds. Madrid clinched a tense 2-1 aggregate victory over RB Leipzig in the round of 16 and squeezed past Manchester City in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout following an entertaining 4-4 aggregate draw.

Their semifinal clash against Bayern Munich was equally heart-pounding, with Madrid, known for their penchant for comebacks against all odds, as seen previously against Manchester City, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain in the knockout rounds of the 2021/22 UCL season, staged a dramatic comeback with two late goals from substitute, Joselu Marto, which secured a 2-1 second-leg win at the Bernabeu and a 4-3 aggregate victory.

On the other hand, Borussia Dortmund seemed to benefit from favorable draws, avoiding tournament favorites. They kicked off their knockout stage campaign with a 3-1 aggregate win against PSV Eindhoven in the round of 16. Terzic’s men then showcased their resilience with a thrilling 5-4 victory over Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals, followed by a stylish pair of 1-0 wins against Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals.

Predictions for the final

Only Manchester City (28) have scored more goals than Madrid (26) in this season’s competition, highlighting the attacking prowess of Ancelotti’s team.

Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo Goes, and Joselu have each scored five goals, while Germany’s center-forward, Niclas Füllkrug, leads Dortmund with three goals.

Madrid not only boast a potent attack but also have the ability to control games from midfield with players like Kroos, Luka Modric, and Federico Valverde. Defensively, Antonio Rudiger has arguably been the standout defender in the competition this season.

However, despite their strengths, Madrid have conceded eight goals in six knockout stage games, indicating that Dortmund will have opportunities to score.

On the defensive side, Borussia Dortmund leads in several defensive statistics according to UEFA data, including tackles made (207), balls recovered (529), tackles won (108), and clearances (251). They have also kept six clean sheets, two more than any other team (Arsenal, Internazionale, Real Sociedad, Bayern).

Dortmund may not be as prolific in scoring as Madrid, but they possess threats down the flanks with the likes of Karim Adeyemi, Julian Brandt and Jadon Sancho. However, if Madrid take the lead at Wembley, it will test Dortmund’s ability in attack.

Nonetheless, it has to be noted that while Dortmund are with a fighting chance and passionate supporters, Real Madrid’s history in the Champions League suggests they are favorites to win their 15th European Cup/Champions League title. It would require an exceptional performance from Dortmund to upset the odds, but with Madrid’s track record, it’s hard to envision anything other than white ribbons on the trophy once again.

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