Dortmund dreams of surprising Real Madrid in the Champions League final

Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic believes “anything is possible” as his side aim to pull off one of the biggest shocks ever in a Champions League final against mighty Real Madrid at the Borussia Dortmund stadium. Wembley in London on Saturday.

The Spanish giants are hot favorites to be crowned European champions for the 15th time, and a sixth in the last 11 seasons, against a Dortmund side who have defied all odds just to travel to the English capital.

Madrid have lost just twice in 54 games in all competitions this season, winning the La Liga title by 10 points and beating Barcelona 4-1 to win the Spanish Super Cup along the way.

However, they once again had to dig deep to reach what manager Carlo Ancelotti described as the “biggest game of all seasons” in the Champions League.

“We have to enjoy being here,” the Italian said in his pre-match press conference. “But knowing that it could go wrong because we are close to the most important thing in football – winning a Champions League – but being afraid that it could slip away from us.”

Ancelotti’s men held off defending champions Manchester City’s barrage to win their quarter-final on penalties before another legendary late fightback at the Santiago Bernabeu to beat Bayern Munich in the last four.

“We never stop believing in it, whatever the circumstances,” said Luka Modric, who, along with Nacho, Dani Carvajal and Toni Kroos, in the last match of his club career can win the European Cup for the sixth time, a record. as a player.

“We still believe in it, keep believing in it, keep pushing, keep fighting until the end. In the end, we manage to find a way to beat our opponents.

“A lot of people say it’s luck, but when it happens so often, I think it’s not just luck.”

– Madrid’s Bellingham shaped by Dortmund –

Dortmund must bridge the financial gap between the teams to win the Champions League for only the second time in their history.

Last season, Madrid had record revenues of 831 million euros ($901 million) compared to Dortmund’s 420 million euros, according to financial experts Deloitte.

Jude Bellingham’s professional career illustrates the scale of the task facing Germans.

Recruited as a teenager from English Championship side Birmingham, he was trained and developed by Dortmund before being snapped up by Madrid in a transfer worth more than €100 million 12 months ago.

Without him, Dortmund struggled domestically this season, finishing fifth in the Bundesliga, 27 points behind Bayer Leverkusen.

However, Terzic’s men saved their best for the Champions League phase and reached the final for the third time in the club’s history and the first since their defeat at Wembley against Bayern Munich ago at the age of 11.

Dortmund leads the death group with Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Newcastle.

PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid were then eliminated before a heroic defensive display held PSG out of two legs in the semi-finals.

“They are the favorites but who cares, we were not favorites against Atletico or against PSG,” Terzic said.

“But if we are brave and we are not there to see Real Madrid lift the trophy, if we are there to give them a match, then we have a chance.”

It is estimated that more than 100,000 fans of the German giants made the trip to London, although the club only received 30,000 tickets for the 90,000-seat stadium.

UEFA hopes the focus will be on the on-pitch protagonists coming in full-time to ensure their decision to return to Wembley for a major final is not second-guessed.

Three years ago, the Euro 2020 final was marred by violence when fans without tickets stormed the stadium gates to gain entry.

The English Football Association has invested £5 million ($6 million) in improving security and infrastructure at Wembley, which is also set to host the Euro 2028 final.

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