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 surprise Real Madrid in Saturday’s Champions League final at Wembley Stadium in London.

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 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.

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

Recruited from English Championship side Birmingham as a teenager, he was trained and developed by the German giants before being snapped up by Madrid in a transfer worth more than 100 million euros ($109 million) there at 12 months.

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.”

Contrary to Madrid’s nickname as king of the competition, Dortmund’s only Champions League success came in 1997.

It is estimated that more than 100,000 fans of the German giants traveled to London despite the club only receiving 30,000 tickets.

Marco Reus is one of only two Dortmund players to be part of the team that lost to Bayern at Wembley 11 years ago and is dreaming of a perfect end to his time at the club.

Saturday will take place the 429th and final match of Reus’ career at Dortmund which could have a fairytale ending.

“I would say there is nothing better than playing your last match in the Champions League final and winning it,” said Reus, who turned 35 on Friday.

“Now the goal is to win the trophy because we can’t imagine how things could happen the next day in Dortmund.”

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.