Champions League Final Location: Wembley Stadium, London
Champions League Final Date: Saturday, June 1
BetXchange Champions League Final Odds:
History
London will host the 32nd UEFA Champions League Final on Saturday, as German underdogs Borussia Dortmund take on the mighty Real Madrid of Spain. This will be Dortmund’s third Champions League Final, having won in 1997 when they beat Juventus 3-1 in Munich. Their other final appearance saw them lose in 2013, ironically also at Wembley, in a 2-1 Der Klassiker reversal at the hands of German rivals Bayern Munich.
You cannot write the history of the Champions League (and, before that, the European Cup) without Real Madrid. Los Blancos have competed in 17 finals, winning the tournament an astonishing 14 times. Their record in finals is ridiculous, with their only three losses coming in 1962, 1964, and 1981. That most recent defeat, now over 40 years ago, was at the hands of Liverpool.
Since then, Real Madrid teams featuring players like R9, CR7, and Zinedine Zidane have won their last eight Champions League finals. Their most recent victory was in 2022 when a Vinicius Junior goal on the house mark was enough to see them past Liverpool at the Stade de France.
Real are the heavy favorites coming into this. They looked out of it against Bayern Munich in the semifinal before some questionable coaching decisions from Thinas Tuchel saw Bayern playing to hold onto their lead. This backfired when Real substitute Joselu scored twice in the game’s dying embers to put them through.
Dortmund struggled to keep the ball in their semifinal against perennial underachieves PSG. The Parisians hit the bar or posted six times over two legs in a game they lost by one goal. Dortmund will have to rely on their organization and ability to hit on the break on Saturday to have a chance, as they are underpowered man for man against the Spanish giants.
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund should line up with a similar team to the semifinal. Sebastien Haller and Mateu Morey are doubts, though neither was likely to start. Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho was unplayable against PSG. He will need to be a similar menace on Saturday to give Dortmund an outlet ball and a threat high up the pitch.
Real Madrid
This will be Toni Broos’ last match for Real Madrid, and he could go out getting a win over a team from his home country to pick up a sixth Champions League winner’s medal. Even with the story of Kroos, all eyes will be on Jude Bellingham in the middle of Madrid’s midfield come match time.
Bellingham, who is still just 20 years old, played 92 times for Dortmund after moving from Birmingham City in 2020. He moved to Real at the start of this season and has been an instant superstar. Bellingham was named the Spanish Player of the Year earlier this week because of his 19 goals from midfield and his ability to always show up in the biggest moments.
Best Bets
Real is the pick to win here. I just can’t see how the fifth-placed team in the Bundesliga can beat a healthy and in-form Madrid team.
I like the prop of both teams to score at 4/5. I also like Vinicius as an anytime goalscorer at 33/25.
