Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Dortmundvs.Real Madrid

sportsmole.co.uk, 30 May 2024, 13:25
Borussia Dortmund travel to Wembley Stadium to test their mettle against 14-time European winners Real Madrid in the Champions League final on Saturday night.

Edin Terzic's side defied the odds to top the 'Group of Death' - finishing first in Group F ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Newcastle - before battling past PSV Eindhoven, Atletico Madrid and PSG in the knockout rounds, defeating the latter 2-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals.

BVB are now gearing up for arguably their biggest game in a decade and their 15th meeting with Real Madrid, with the Bundesliga club bidding to become just the second German team to win Europe's most prestigious club competition more than once.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at Borussia Dortmund's record in the European Cup/Champions League final ahead of Saturday's showdown in London.

Excluding Saturday's contest, Borussia Dortmund have only reached five semi-finals and two finals since the inception of Europe's premier club competition back in 1955.

Thirty-three years after progressing to their first-ever European Cup semi-final, Dortmund made it all the way to their first-ever Champions League final in the 1996-97 campaign, held on German soil at the Olympiastadion in Munich.

BVB beat Auxerre and Manchester United in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively to set up a memorable showpiece with Italian giants Juventus, the side that thrashed them 6-1 on aggregate in the UEFA Cup final just four years earlier.

Ottmar Hitzfeld's men got their revenge in the Champions League, though, as a first-half brace from Karl-Heinz Riedle as well as a second-half strike from substitute Lars Ricken helped Dortmund win 3-1, becoming the first German team to win the competition since the country's reunification in 1990.

Dortmund were unable to retain their European crown as they were knocked out in the semi-finals by Real Madrid the following year, before they failed to qualify for 12 of the next 13 editions of the Champions League.

Jurgen Klopp eventually steered the club back into Europe's elite club competition after winning back-to-back Bundesliga titles. A year after being eliminated in the group stage, BVB reached the 2012-13 final after topping their group ahead of Real Madrid, Ajax and Manchester City, before beating Shakhtar Donetsk, Malaga and Real Madrid in the knockout rounds.

Standing in their way of glory was a familiar foe in the form of Bayern Munich, and it was the Bavarians who prevailed in the first all-German Champions League final. Ilkay Gundogan's second-half penalty cancelled out an opener from Mario Mandzukic, but Arjen Robben scored the decisive goal to seal a 2-1 victory for Bayern.

Dortmund will return to Wembley 11 years on for their third appearance in the Champions League final this weekend and they are tasked with coming out on top against a Real Madrid outfit whom they have beaten in just three of their previous 14 meetings.

Read more on Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid

Real Madrid injury news and return dates before Champions League final - Lunin, Tchouameni

Borussia Dortmund injury news, return dates before Real Madrid - Haller, Bensebaini

Click here to read our full preview for Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid

How Borussia Dortmund could line up against Real Madrid

How Real Madrid could line up against Borussia Dortmund

Dortmund vs. Real Madrid: Head-to-head record and past meetings

Dortmund vs. Real Madrid: How do both squads compare ahead of CL final?

A closer look at Dortmund's Champions League final record

A closer look at Real Madrid's Champions League final record

Top News

17 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The Champions League features Europe's best teams and players, and some of football's finest goals have been scored in UEFA's premier club competition. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich director of sport Max Eberl has defended the club's decision to sell centre-back Matthijs de Ligt to Manchester United this summer. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A number of Europe's top clubs including Manchester City and Real Madrid have seemingly been put on red alert, as Bayern Munich chief Max Eberl has admitted that it will be "difficult" to agree a contract extension with Jamal Musiala. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ajax will play their third league game of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season on Wednesday at Johan Cruyff Arena where they will face Fortuna Sittard. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brasileiro rivals Botafogo and Sao Paulo are set to lock horns at Estadio Nilton Santos in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores quarter-final tie on Thursday morning. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The Champions League returns this week for its 33rd iteration since the format was changed in 1992. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With the Champions League set to get underway this week, fans will finally get a glimpse of the competition's new league phase which has replaced the traditional group stage. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After claiming their first league win of the season, Real Betis will attempt to earn a second straight victory when they welcome Getafe to the Benito Villamarin for Wednesday's La Liga clash. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Reece James is reportedly not expected to return from injury as fast as first anticipated. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The first of the all-Brazil quarter-final ties in the Copa Libertadores is set to get underway on Wednesday night with Fluminense taking on Atletico Mineiro at Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain begin their 2024-25 Champions League campaign against tournament debutants Girona at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City kick-start their 2024-25 Champions League campaign with a showdown against Italian giants Inter Milan at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Inter Milan head coach Simone Inzaghi is expected to recall several first-team stars to his starting lineup for Wednesday's Champions League encounter with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will consider handing start to a number of first-team stars when his side welcome Inter Milan to the Etihad Stadium for their first fixture in 2024-25 Champions League on Wednesday. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City kick-start their 2024-25 Champions League campaign with an enticing showdown against Serie A champions Inter Milan at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sparta Prague face Red Bull Salzburg on matchday one of the new league phase in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford boss Thomas Frank has revealed that Yoane Wissa will be sidelined for a "couple of months" with an ankle injury. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League holders Real Madrid get the new campaign underway when they host Stuttgart in the new-look league phase at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two clubs with an astonishing 13 European Cup/Champions League titles between them clash in Tuesday's league phase opener, as AC Milan host Liverpool at San Siro. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atlanta United can move above the Eastern Conference playoff line in Major League Soccer (MLS) when they host Inter Miami on Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has reportedly been shortlisted by two Premier League clubs for a possible January transfer. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk For the first time since 2018, New York City FC can sweep their MLS regular-season series with the Philadelphia Union when they host them on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two places separate Orlando City and Charlotte FC in the Eastern Conference going into Wednesday night's gameweek 32 MLS action at Inter&Co Stadium. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have received a boost ahead of their Champions League clash with AC Milan on Tuesday, as midfielder Ismael Bennacer has been ruled out for the hosts. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich has revealed he would be happy to stay at the club for the foreseeable future in a blow to the clubs rumoured to be monitoring him. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery has admitted that he will consider making changes to his starting lineup for Tuesday's Champions League opener against Young Boys. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool attacker Federico Chiesa could finally make his debut for the Reds against AC Milan on Tuesday night, having been included in Arne Slot's squad for their opening Champions League battle. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After all the hype - and a little confusion - the new-look Champions League will officially get under way this week, with 36 teams participating in an expanded league phase, which runs from now until early next year. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The bottom-ranked side from pot three faces the top-ranked club from pot four on matchday one of the Champions League on Wednesday, when Celtic host Slovan Bratislava. 16 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Istanbul Basaksehir will travel to Samsun 19 Mayis Stadyumu to face Samsunspor on Wednesday evening in the Turkish Super Lig, aiming to continue their unbeaten start to the season.