Champions League final: Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund betting preview

It’s nearly here. After months and months of the competition, only two teams are left standing in the Champions League and they will meet in the final on Saturday. 14-time winners Real Madrid are set to clash with Borussia Dortmund, who are in the showpiece for the first time since 2013 when they lost to Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich. Los Blancos find themselves at this stage after eliminating Bayern in the semifinals, while BVB bested Kylian Mbappe and PSG in the last four to book their ticket to the grand finale. Below, we’ll preview the biggest club match in the world and also discuss any notable injuries.

Real Madrid

Another season of domination from Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti’s men won the LaLiga title and are on the brink of adding to their impressive resume in the Champions League. The scariest part? This side is only getting stronger. Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo are all young and will be around for years to come. On top of that, Mbappe is expected to join this summer while Alphonso Davies is also on Real’s radar. Don’t forget Brazilian phenom Endrick, too.

Even without Karim Benzema leading the line, it’s clear Los Blancos are still one of the best clubs in the world, if not the best. They flew through the Champions League, not dropping a single point in the group stages. In the knockout rounds, they progressed past RB Leipzig and holders Manchester City in the quarterfinals, beating them on penalties at the Etihad in a thrilling second leg.

Madrid goes into the final with eight wins and four draws in the 2023-24 competition but surprisingly, it’s the first time they will play in a showpiece without losing a game in the entire tournament. This is the 18th time Los Blancos will take part in a UCL final. Truly remarkable. Given their experience, Real is a heavy -175 favorite at BetVictor.

Borussia Dortmund

I don’t think anyone could’ve predicted that Dortmund would be in the Champions League final. I mean, they were fifth in the Bundesliga campaign and didn’t exactly play consistent football. But, in Europe’s most prestigious competition, the Black and Yellows produced the goods. Edin Terzic’s squad finished atop Group F with 11 points (3-2-1 record), advancing as the first-place club in the pod above PSG, AC Milan, and Newcastle.

Their road to Wembley wasn’t the easiest, either. They had to get past PSV, Atletico Madrid, and as previously mentioned, Paris. Coincidentally enough, their last appearance in the UCL final also came at Wembley, so there will be some familiarity for two players in particular, Mats Hummels and Marco Reus.

BVB have won four of their last five fixtures and last took the pitch on May 18th, hammering Darmstadt 4-0 in their Bundesliga finale. There is no question Dortmund is the weaker side compared to Madrid, but that doesn’t necessarily matter in a one-leg final. They will fancy their chances as an underdog at soccer betting sites.

UCL final injury news

Terzic will be grinning from ear to ear with a full-strength squad to choose from. For Madrid, they’re still without David Alaba and Aurélien Tchouaméni. We will be seeing the best of both sides on Saturday at Wembley in what is hopefully a tantalizing affair.