The Champions League Final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid is just a couple of days away. Real Madrid have a chance to win their 15th Champions League, while Dortmund look to secure their first since 1997.
A Perfect Ending?
Borussia Dortmund club captain and icon Marco Reus will play his final game in a Dortmund shirt this Saturday. The club decided after over a decade of service for the club that it was time to part ways. During his time at Dortmund, Marco Reus failed to win a Bundesliga title and fell short of winning the Champions League in 2013 at Wembley Stadium, the location of this years final. If Dortmund and Marco Reus were to win the Champions League, it would be the perfect end to his time at Dortmund and would be their first European trophy in 27 years.
Potential Ballon D’Or Winners
Both Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. have both made strong cases for this year’s Ballon D’Or trophy. Each player has played a pivotal role in the success of Real Madrid’s La Liga campaign as well as their run to the Champions League Final. A Champions League win for Real Madrid would put both players in contention for the prestigious trophy. Both will look to make their mark on the game and start to cement their status as Real Madrid legends.
The Tale of the Tape
Real Madrid are the favorite to win, but Dortmund will do everything in their power to bring the trophy back to Germany. Real Madrid’s Brazilian duo of Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr. will be the leading force behind the attack and will look to exploit Dortmund’s defense with their pace and skill. Stalwart defender Antonio Rudiger will use his defensive acumen to try to keep the lively Dortmund attack at bay. Dynamic winger Jadon Sancho will look to continue his good form in the Champions League into the final, as he and Julian Brandt will be the main creative points in this Dortmund team. Veteran defender Mats Hummels will look to use his experience to shut down the young guns of Real Madrid in hopes of securing the trophy for Dortmund.
Final Thoughts
Expect both teams to play an aggressive game with each team really going for it. Real Madrid have the better squad on paper, but Borussia Dortmund have beat many solid teams to reach the final. It’s still hard to bet against Real Madrid in the Champions League, and its hard not to imagine them lifting the trophy at Wembley this Saturday.
