Champions League Final: Real Madrid Sweeping All German Teams? Dortmund's Edge Could Decide

The pinnacle clash of European football will unfold for the 8th time at Wembley Stadium, where perennial Champions League dominators Real Madrid face the challenge from Bundesliga dark horse Borussia Dortmund. Real Madrid's last defeat in a Champions League final dates back to the 1980-1981 season, when they fell 0-1 to Liverpool with Dalglish at the helm. Since then, Real Madrid has gone on an unprecedented streak of eight consecutive Champions League final victories.

Dortmund, while not among the European football elites, is no stranger to the Champions League spotlight. They clinched the title back in 1997 by defeating the formidable Juventus and reached the final again in the 2012-2013 season, only to succumb to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich. This season, Dortmund found themselves in a tough group, and few favored their chances to advance. Yet, with sheer determination and some fortune, they battled through to the final. While knockout stages are often unpredictable, the league paints a different picture; this Bundesliga season saw surprises like Leverkusen and Stuttgart emerging as super dark horses, with Dortmund only managing a fifth-place finish, their worst in nine seasons.

Dortmund's European campaign this season began with a challenging group stage, where they failed to win their first two matches and struggled to score. However, luck turned when Newcastle United's midfield linchpin Tonali received a suspension, allowing Dortmund to capitalize and secure crucial victories. Their solid defensive line began to take shape. Subsequently, Dortmund defeated AC Milan and held Paris Saint-Germain to earn top spot in their group. Comparatively, Real Madrid demonstrated dominance this season, cruising through the group stage with six straight wins. Their knockout phase was equally assured, eliminating RB Leipzig with a slim margin before facing tougher tests against Manchester City and Bayern Munich. The Galacticos often conceded early in three out of four matches against these giants but managed to navigate through under Ancelotti's adept management. Nevertheless, their defensive vulnerabilities were evident, having conceded 15 goals in 12 matches, nearly double Dortmund's tally of 8. They secured a clean sheet only once in the knockout stage.

Indeed, Real Madrid's path was strewn with powerhouses, yet their triumphs sometimes seemed more about their dominance than tactical prowess. In contrast, Dortmund appeared more methodical and stable, evidenced by their impressive home record in the knockout stages, winning all three encounters so far. Therefore, even though technically the final is a home fixture for Madrid, Dortmund's psychological advantage could play a pivotal role.

For the final, Ancelotti's decision to start Courtois over Lunin has raised eyebrows. Courtois, despite being a world-class goalkeeper when in form, has only played four inconsequential league matches since returning from injury, with three resulting in large-margin victories for Madrid. Suddenly thrust into the Champions League final, can Courtois mentally prepare himself? Real Madrid boasts superior overall strength, but Dortmund's consistent performance might balance the scales. Both teams are likely to exhibit only a fraction of their full potential in the ninety minutes. Dortmund's resilience could be decisive, spurred on by the prospect of avenging their fellow German clubs eliminated by Madrid.