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Borussia Dortmund's coach Edin Terzic believes "anything is possible" as his team prepares to take on Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday. The Spanish giants, who have lost just twice in 54 games across all competitions this season, are the heavy favorites. Real Madrid have stormed to the La Liga title by a comfortable 10-point margin and thrashed Barcelona 4-1 to lift the Spanish Super Cup.
Real Madrid's journey to the final was anything but easy. They faced defending champions Manchester City in the quarter-finals and triumphed on penalties after a grueling match. In the semi-finals, they staged another legendary late comeback to defeat Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu. "We never stop believing, no matter the circumstances," said Luka Modric. Along with Nacho, Dani Carvajal, and Toni Kroos, Modric could win the European Cup for a record-equalling sixth time as a player.
Every Champions League final since 1993 🧵 #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/1EmzTuXa5F
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 28, 2024
Despite being the underdogs, Dortmund have shown remarkable resilience to reach the final. Dortmund finished fifth in the Bundesliga, 27 points behind champions Bayer Leverkusen. However, they have saved their best performances for the Champions League. They topped the 'group of death' which included Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, and Newcastle. They then defeated PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid before a heroic defensive display saw them eliminate PSG over two legs in the semi-finals.
The transfer of Jude Bellingham from Dortmund to Real Madrid for over 100 million euros last year epitomizes the challenge Dortmund faces. Without Bellingham, Dortmund struggled domestically. "They are the favorites but we don't care," said Terzic. "If we are brave and not here just to watch Real Madrid lift the trophy, we have a chance."
⚖️ Final score: ______
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 1, 2024
âš˝ First scorer: ______
🌟 Star performer: ______ #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/g3VfgdD2hL
For Marco Reus, this match represents the culmination of his career with Dortmund. Saturday will mark his 429th and final game for the club. "There is nothing better than playing your last game in a Champions League final and winning it," said Reus, who turned 35 on Friday.
Real Madrid, led by coach Carlo Ancelotti, have demonstrated their tactical prowess and mental strength throughout the tournament. Ancelotti described the Champions League final as "the biggest game of any season," underscoring the importance of this match for the club.
UEFA will be hoping the focus remains on football rather than off-field issues, given past problems with security. Three years ago, the Euro 2020 final at Wembley was marred by violence as ticketless fans stormed the stadium. Since then, the English Football Association has invested £5 million into improving safety and infrastructure at Wembley.
Over 100,000 Dortmund fans are estimated to have made the trip to London, despite the club being allocated just 30,000 tickets. Their unwavering support will be crucial as Dortmund aim to win their first Champions League title since 1997.
