Will Borussia Dortmund prevent Real Madrid from winning their 15th UEFA Champions League title?
Since 1981, Real Madrid, also known as Los Blancos, has never lost in a European Cup final. This impressive run consists of eight consecutive victories, a feat that has lasted for 43 years. As a result, Real Madrid has a total of 14 wins, which is double the count of second-place AC Milan.
Borussia Dortmund is the next team to attempt to break Real Madrid's undefeated streak in the European Cup finals. The two teams will face each other at Wembley Stadium during the Champions League grand finale on Saturday.
Real Madrid starts as the clear favorite to win the tournament. This is likely due to the team's unmatched ability to make surprising comebacks during European matches. They demonstrated this talent once again in the semifinals by scoring two quick goals in the dying minutes, allowing them to defeat Bayern Munich.
Despite being favored to win, coach Carlo Ancelotti refuses to see his team as the favorites, stating that they must focus on their opponent. In his opinion, Dortmund is a skilled and determined team that deserves to be in the final after defeating quality teams like Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid.
Defender and club captain Nacho agrees with Ancelotti, saying that there is "magic" around Real Madrid during European nights. No matter how difficult the situation appears, Real Madrid is an unpredictable team in the Champions League.
The path to the final for Real Madrid was not free of challenges. Winning all six group games effortlessly, they barely made it past RB Leipzig in the round-of-16, then barely won their quarterfinal encounter against a strong Manchester City team in a penalty shootout. Their most recent escape act was against Bayern Munich, where two goals from Joselu in the 88th and 91st minutes turned a 3-2 aggregate deficit into a 4-3 win in the semifinals.
Real Madrid seems to always find a way, even when things look bleak.
Ancelotti recognizes the uniqueness of Real's Champions League record, attributing it to the special history the club has created in the competition since the 1950s. He stated that the Champions League is a significant focus for Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Dortmund has not reached a Champions League final since their defeat against Bayern Munich in 2013. Their only triumph in the tournament was in 1997 when they defeated Juventus 3-1.
Considering their current situation, Dortmund's presence in the final is somewhat surprising. The team came close to winning the Bundesliga title last season but lost out to Bayern. They finished 5th in the championship this year, 27 points behind the champion Bayer Leverkusen.
Coach Edin Terzic was visibly emotional after the season's disappointing end, finding solace in front of Dortmund's iconic 'Yellow Wall.' Victory on Saturday would undoubtedly erase the painful memories of last season's defeat.
Terzic remains resolute in his belief that anything is achievable in one game, claiming that his team has continually proven that throughout the season, especially in the Champions League. He emphasizes that only what happens in the following match matters for Dortmund.
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After securing their place in the Champions League final, Borussia Dortmund will aim to end Real Madrid's 14-year winning streak in European Cup finals. Despite being underdogs, Dortmund's determination and skill earned them a spot against Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium.
