It will be a cracker as Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund battle LaLiga and European giants Real Madrid in a highly-anticipated 2023-24 UEFA Champions League final at Wembley, MySportDab reports.
Football fans across the world are already agog for the premium and elite club competition in Europe. It will go down the wires at Wembley with the two sides locking horns in what is expected to be a rollercoaster.
Real Madrid are heading into the competition as favorites but Borussia Dortmund are not push-overs either. The Bundesliga outfit belied an inconsistent domestic run to qualify from the toughest groups in the competition.
The last time the Dortmund played in the Champions League final was in 2013 when they lost to domestic rivals Bayern Munich at Wembley. Returning to Wembley 11 years later will be a wholesome experience for the likes of Mats Hummel and Marco Reus who were present in the last final and are still instrumental to the club’s prolific European run.
It was a nail-biting run for both teams in the build-up to the final. Dortmund saw off PSV, Atletico Madrid, and then PSG to reach the final.
Real Madrid edged out RB Leipzig, defending Champions Manchester City, and then Bayern Munich to make it to their record 18th UCL final.
On form guide, Real Madrid have been dominant against German oppositions in the UCL. They have only lost once in their last 20 meetings, winning 13 and drawing 6. Moreover, they are no stranger to the competition, having now reached 18 finals and winning it 14 times – more than any other team in Europe.
Borussia Dortmund, on the other hand, will be hoping for their first UCL title. They have lost only one of their last 11 matches in the competition, winning 7 times with 3 draws.
Predicted Lineup
Kobel, who has played a great role in the build-up to the final, will be expected to start on goal for Borussia Dortmund.
Hummels, Ryerson, and Chelsea loanee, Ian Maatsen, are also expected to start with United loanee Sancho, Adeyemi, Marcel Sabitzer, and others.
Borussia Dortmund expected Lineup: Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Can, Sabitzer; Adeyemi, Brandt, Sancho; Füllkrug.
A major change is expected in the goalkeeping department for Real Madrid with Thibaut Courtois set to return while Lunin will be dropped.
Nacho, Rudiger, Mendy, and Carvajal are all available to start at the defense. Toni Kroos will be playing his final club game marshaling the midfield alongside Jude Bellingham, Camavinga, and Valverde. Vinicius Jr is expected to lead the attack alongside Brazil pal Rodrygo.
Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Nacho, Rüdiger, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Camavinga; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinícius Júnior
Prediction
The odds favor Real Madrid. Borussia Dortmund will be heading into the match as underdogs but it is likely to be a tight affair but Los Blancos are likely to ace it with a 2-1 victory.
The match will be played today, June 1 at Wembley in England. The GMT kickoff time is 19:00 while the Nigerian kickoff time is 08:00pm.
It will be streamed live here on MySportDab Live. Stay tuned.
