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The Wembley arch awaits the victors.
Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid take centre stage in the 2024 Champions League final. Dortmund return to Wembley hoping to exorcise the demons from their agonizing 2-1 final defeat to Bayern Munich at the same venue in 2013. Their underdog journey to the final stage has been an incredible rollercoaster ride defined by resilience and a determination to etch their name into European folklore.
Their opponents could hardly be more daunting – 14-time champions and European heavyweights Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti’s cool, calm, and collected side have navigated a treacherous draw with the unflustered composure of true champions, overcoming every challenge with their vast experience and pedigree on the grandest of stages as they seek to add yet another illustrious chapter to their legacy.
Road to the Final: Borussia Dortmund
Edin Terzic’s side navigated a treacherous group of elite opponents like PSG, Newcastle, and AC Milan ahead of a relatively kinder knockout path, sharing the goalscoring load with Niclas Füllkrug leading the way among 12 different scorers. The use of a flexible 4-2-3-1 formation has helped bring out the best of a dynamic attack. Emre Can often drops into the backline to allow marauding full-backs to push high and wide, while Marcel Sabitzer and Julian Brandt rotate vertically through the midfield.
Dortmund’s rapid counter-attacks through the pace of Karim Adeyemi, Donyell Malen, and the reborn Jadon Sancho, have been a potent weapon unlocked by the creative Brandt. Sancho in particular was magnificent in the semi-final win over PSG, producing a dazzling individual display in the first leg.
Defensively, Dortmund have displayed remarkable resilience and solidity. They have conceded just 9 goals in 12 Champions League games, keeping 6 clean sheets. The steely veteran Mats Hummels has guided fellow centre-back and breakout star Nico Schlotterbeck, marshalling the backline superbly. Stifling Real Madrid’s deadly attack, however, will be a massive challenge for the duo. Still, Hummels will have extra motivation – to avenge the Wembley heartbreak he and fellow talisman Marco Reus suffered in the 2013 final against Bayern.
Road to the Final: Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti has implemented a flexible 4-4-2 diamond formation that allows for constant rotations and overloads. Madrid can unpick the most resolute defences through moments of individual brilliance, counters, headers, or long-range screamers – you name it. They seemingly thrive on drama, often scoring against the run of play in moments when their opponents thought they had finally wrestled control of the tie, epitomizing their reputations as escape artists extraordinaire.
Madrid’s left flank has been simply unplayable, with the free-roaming Brazilian dream team of Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo spreading chaos with their trickery and direct running. The young vibrant pair have been exceptional this campaign, ably supported by the pinpoint precision passing from the evergreen Toni Kroos and Jude Bellingham’s late runs from midfield.
While lacking the global superstar individuals of recent eras like Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Karim Benzema, Madrid’s latest vintage is more balanced and complete. They may not possess the absolute highest ceiling in terms of star power, but their tight-knit, experienced squad has an extremely high floor in quality with no obvious weak links.
End of an Era
The midfield matchup between the two German maestros, Kroos and Reus, will be particularly bittersweet. Both long-serving talismen will leave their clubs upon their contracts’ expiry later this month. While Reu’s future is uncertain, Kroos has announced his retirement from football. He will hang up his boots upon the culmination of this summer’s European Championship. Both players will want to depart the highest stage, Kroos with a record-extending 6th Champions League title and Reus with his first.
Champions League Glory at Stake
The young pretenders take on the wise old monarchs in a tactical battle that will see the youthful physicality of Dortmund go up against the big-game composure, belief, and know-how of Madrid, forged by over a decade of conquering the continent. Dortmund will likely need to withstand extended periods of suffering against the Kings of Europe before being able to spring their lightning-quick counter-attacks.
A fascinating clash of styles and generations awaits, with the irresistible forces of both sides primed to make this the climactic chapter in what has been an enchanting rollercoaster ride to immortality. Two contrasting journeys, two profoundly contrasting narratives and sets of experiences, converge for an epic showdown where legacies and folklore will be rewritten once again under the bright lights of European club football’s grandest stage.
