THE CHAMPIONS BLOG: 2023/24 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL PREVIEW BORUSSIA DORTMUND VS REAL MADRID

32 teams started this great competition back in September, now, the best two teams in Europe remain. Borussia Dortmund of Germany are set to take on Real Madrid of Spain. In just a matter of weeks, one of these two teams will be crowned the new champion of Europe. Will it be Dortmund at last or Real once again? 

Finalist 1: Borussia Dortmund

Road to Wembley: 

Group Stage: 

MD1: Paris Saint Germain (H): 0-2

MD2: AC Milan (H): 0-0 

MD3: Newcastle United (A): 1-0

MD4: Newcastle United (H): 2-0

MD5: AC Milan (A): 3-1

MD6: Paris Saint Germain (A): 1-1

Group F Winners

Round of 16:

1st Leg: PSV Eindhoven (A): 1-1

2nd Leg: PSV Eindhoven (H): 2-0

Quarter Finals:

1st Leg: Atletico Madrid (A): 1-2

2nd Leg: Atletico Madrid (H): 4-2

Semi Finals:

1st Leg: Paris Saint Germain (H): 1-0

2nd Leg: Paris Saint Germain (A): 1-0

Borussia Dortmund have certainly been an underdog in this Champions League season. They managed to start off the competition strong by topping group of death, involving favourites PSG, 7-time winners, AC Milan and in-form Newcastle. After a slow start to the competition, gaining just 1 point out of a possible 6, Dortmund made their last 4 games count, by securing huge wins against Newcastle and Milan, to earn themselves 9 points. In their last game against PSG, Dortmund managed to draw 1-1, sealing their top spot in Group F. In the Round of 16, Dortmund were drawn against Dutch giants and newly crowned champions, PSV Eindhoven. Dortmund managed to secure a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Netherlands before securing a 2-0 win in Germany 3 weeks later. This win meant Dortmund were through to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2021. In the quarter final draw, Dortmund were drawn against Spanish side, Atletico Madrid and would play either Barcelona or PSG, if they were to be victorious. However, their chances of progressing were slightly dampened when Atletico took a 2-1 win to the second leg to Germany. Despite narrowly losing, Dortmund managed to come back in dramatic circumstances and win 4-2 securing a 5-4 win on aggregate. This meant that Dortmund were through to the last 4 for the first time since 2013. Because of PSG getting the better of Barcelona, Dortmund would face the Parisian champions for the second time this season. This time, things would go different from The Yellow and Black. Dortmund would kick off the first leg winning 1-0 thanks to Niclas Füllkrug and won the return leg by the same score thanks to Mats Hummels. This means for the first time in 11 years, Dortmund have reached the Champions League final. Their last Champions League final also was in Wembley Stadium in London. 

Finalist 2: Real Madrid

Road to Wembley:

Group Stage:

MD1: Union Berlin (H): 1-0

MD2: Napoli (A): 3-2

MD3: Braga (A): 2-1

MD4: Braga (H): 3-0

MD5: Napoli (H): 4-2

MD6: Union Berlin (A): 3-2

Round of 16:

1st Leg: RB Leipzig (A): 1-0

2nd Leg: RB Leipzig (H): 1-1

Quarter Finals:

1st Leg: Manchester City (H): 3-3

2nd Leg: Manchester City (A): 1-1 (4-3 on penalties)

Semi Finals: 

1st Leg: Bayern Munich (A): 2-2

2nd Leg: Bayern Munich (H): 2-1

Even from the beginning of the tournament, Real Madrid were heavy favourites to go all the way to London. Which they did. Just like their final opponents, they started the tournament strong, managing to win all 6 of their games for the first time since the 2014-15 season. They were drawn against Bundesliga side, RB Leipzig in the Round of 16. They managed to grab a slim 1-0 in the first leg in Germany before securing their ticket to the last 8 with a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu. They were then drawn against reigning champions of the competition, Manchester City. The 1st leg was a thrilling night in Madrid, a 3-3 draw with both teams having an equal chance of progressing. In the second leg in Manchester, the teams drew 1-1 all the way to penalties. City would've progressed but because of the abolition of the away goals rule, the teams had to go to extra time and eventually penalties. Real would then be victorious on penalties thanks to the heroics from Andriy Lunin. They would then face Bayern Munich in the semifinals, creating the first meeting between the two sides since 2018. Real and Bayern drew the first leg in Munich 2-2, with Vinicius Jr. In the second leg in Madrid, it was the 88th minute, and it looked like it would be Bayern vs Dortmund in Wembley again, but then, super substitute Joselu, grabbed a late brace sending Los Blancos to their 18th Champions League final, and their second in 3 years.

The final is set, and the hype is building up with each passing day. Despite these two teams full of stars being the highlights of the season, only one will lift the famous trophy in London. Will Dortmund win their second Champions League title or will Real Madrid extend their record to 15 Champions League wins. The Champions Blog will return in June were Wembley awaits.