Dortmund vs Real Madrid Prediction: Los Blancos to extend stunning European record
Another continental trophy is in sight for Real Madrid — the record 14-time European champions — and their final challenge this time around sees them take on Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
This year’s Champions League final is looking to be like no other, with plenty of stories surrounding this fixture.
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham will face his former employers for the first time since leaving the BVB Stadion last summer, Toni Kroos will likely play his final club match before his retirement after Euro 2024 and Marco Reus will also take to the field for the final time in a Dortmund shirt after 12 years at the club.
Los Blancos have looked at their dominant best this season, having not lost any of their continental fixtures, while they have dispatched two of the pre-tournament favourites on their path to the final with wins over reigning champions Manchester City in the quarter-finals and six-time winners Bayern Munich in the last four.
However, Real cannot afford to be complacent against Dortmund, with the Germans continuing to prove their doubters wrong.
Edin Terzic’s men have already produced heroics in their comeback victory over Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals as well as beating Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals — leaving superstar striker Kylian Mbappe without a Champions League success for the Ligue 1 champions before his expected move to the Bernabeu this summer.
Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid Betting Tips
Team news
Dortmund boss Edin Terzic faces a number of injury issues affecting his selection, with the likes of Ramy Bensebaini and Julien Duranville both expected to miss out with respective knee and thigh injuries.
Striker Sebastien Haller is also a major doubt for Saturday’s final, meaning Niclas Fullkrug will likely start up top with Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho also expected to feature.
Real manager Carlo Ancelotti will also have a few first-team players in the treatment room, with Aurelien Tchouameni (leg) and David Alaba (knee) both unavailable.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has only recently returned from a long injury lay-off and played just 63 minutes against Real Betis last weekend, while back-up Andriy Lunin has been suffering with the flu recently and so a big decision must be made on who starts between the sticks.
Tip 1 - Real Madrid to win and Both Teams to Score @ 39/20
Real have yet to lose in this season’s Champions League and they have not lost in any competition since mid-January — a 4-2 extra-time defeat to rivals Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey. This form should stand them in good stead on Saturday.
Los Blancos know how to get the job on the biggest stage, with their last continental final defeat coming way back in 1983 against a Sir Alex Ferguson-managed Aberdeen in the European Cup-Winners’ Cup.
Dortmund have scored in each of their last 10 games in the Champions League and go into this final on the back of four wins from their last five games in all competitions. However, they will have bad memories of Wembley Stadium, having lost 2-1 to bitter rivals Bayern Munich in the 2013 final.
Real Madrid should have the experience and quality to lift the trophy on the day, although each of their last four meetings with Dortmund have seen both sides find the net so do not be surprised if the Germans stun Los Blancos with a goal of their own.
Tip 2 - Over 3.5 Goals @ 33/20
Both Dortmund and Real Madrid are in a rich vein of goalscoring form and a high-scoring encounter could well be in store on Saturday.
Dortmund have netted 10 goals across their last four games in all competitions, including a 4-0 thumping of Darmstadt on the final day of the Bundesliga season.
Real Madrid have also been on the goal trail, registering 13 in three La Liga games on the back of their semi-final win over Bayern, before finishing their domestic campaign with a 0-0 draw against Real Betis after the champagne corks had long since been popped.
Each of the last four head-to-heads between these two sides (and seven of the last 11) have produced at least four goals and, given the form of the two sides heading into the final, a similar story could be in store.