Dortmund’s trajectory to the Champions League Final at Wembley it was something of a fairy tale. On the way to a happy ending is Real Madrid, 14 times winners.
The Spanish champions go into Saturday’s final as heavy favourites, but there is a sea of yellow ready to celebrate a huge upset at Wembley. Telegraph sportBrazil’s football experts predict the outcome.
Dortmund’s best hope of victory
Counterattack
Sam Wallace: Both sides had minority possession in big knockout games. Real had 36 percent at the Etihad in the second leg of the quarter-finals and Dortmund just 33 percent in Paris in the second leg of the semi-finals. Real are a brilliant, quick counter-attacking team who capitalize on mistakes. Dortmund will try to counterattack at Wembley like they did against PSG. This is the natural approach in a final of this nature, which is obviously incompatible. The risk for Dortmund is that Real’s attack simply overtakes them.
Mike McGrath: Double over Vinicius Junior. Yes, this may neglect focusing on Toni Kroos’ pass or Jude Bellingham’s late runs into the box, but Vini Jr is simply terrifying to defend against and I would risk letting others run away from the opposition to keep him quiet.
Set up a low block
James Ducker: Defends compactly in a medium-low block and seeks to use speed on the counterattack. Real should have much more possession than in the semi-final against Bayern and Dortmund need to be prepared to shoot decisively when the opportunity allows. Likewise, I could see them having real problems with the quality of Real’s attack.
Rely on teamwork, not individuals
John Percy: Dortmund is all about the collective, a team better than the sum of its parts. You have Jadon Sancho and Marcel Sabitzer, both discarded by Manchester United, Ian Maatsen unwanted at Chelsea, as well as Mats Hummels and Niklas Sule released by Bayern Munich. If they can be the team, they could – and it has great potential – secure a surprise victory.
The only thing I want to see
A budget victory
Wallace: Two great teams and great players in both, but we all like a turnaround. A victory for Dortmund would be good for the Champions League and European football. Like Real, it is a club owned mostly by its fans, but unlike Real, its debt is small. They don’t have access to the kind of long-term sales of future revenue that financed Real’s stadium renovation. In the 1990s, when Dortmund won their only European Cup, nine different clubs from eight different countries – including Real – won the competition. In the last ten years, six clubs from just three countries have won and none with the relatively modest budget that Dortmund works for.
Sancho sets Wembley on fire
McGrath: Jadon Sancho enjoying his football and enjoying the occasion at Wembley. It looked like he had something to prove in the semi-finals and it would be a great message for Manchester United if he put in another great performance.
Sancho with winner’s medal
Duck: A season that could not have started much worse for Jadon Sancho, after his public and bitter disagreement with Erik ten Hag, could still end with the English striker, on loan at Dortmund from Manchester United, with a Champions League winner’s medal. It would be some story.
Ancelotti’s eyebrows
Percy: Carlo Ancelotti’s eyebrows in glorious high definition
The player who will be the center of attention
Vinícius Junior
Wallace: Judging by his performance in the semi-finals, Vinicius Junior is the most in-form player in Europe. He should be the star.
Duck: There will inevitably be a Huge amount of attention on Jude Bellinghamagainst his former club, but Vinicius Jr has proven time and time again that he is a player who gives his best on the biggest occasions and I expect no different here.
McGrath: Andriy Lunin could be an unlikely hero, provided he recovers from the flu in time. €9m signing Zorya Luhansk from Ukraine has been on loan at Leganes, Valladolid and Oviedo in recent seasons but has made the most of his opportunity this season following a serious knee injury to Thibaut Courtois. He showed against Manchester City in the quarterfinals that he keeps his cool in penalty shootouts.
Mats Hummels
Percy: The focus will inevitably be on Jude Bellingham and Sancho, but this could be a significant night for Mats Hummels. At 35, the aging warrior could well be preparing for his last decisive final. Hummels has been very consistent, and indeed underrated, over the years and will be absolutely crucial at Wembley.
Punctuation?
Wallace: Hard to see past Real – could see them winning 3-1
McGrath: Borussia Dortmund 1 Real Madrid 3
Duck: Difficult to imagine beyond the 15th European Cup with Real. 3-1 for Carlo Ancelotti’s team.
Percy: Real Madrid 2 Borussia Dortmund 1
