Wembley Stadium forms the backdrop for the 2023/24 Champions League final on June 1, where Bundesliga underachievers Borussia Dortmund face Spanish champions Real Madrid.
Los Blancos have made a habit of participating in Europe’s most anticipated showpiece and have done so more times than any other side in the competition’s history.
The record Champions League holders are looking to get their hands on the trophy for a remarkable 15th time and are big favourites with the bookmakers to achieve the feat.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are no strangers to the big stage and will be unfazed by the occasion, especially after a pulsating semi-final triumph over Bayern Munich.
They were on the cusp of elimination before staging a remarkable comeback to knock the German heavyweights out of the competition and will be looking to inflict the same fate on Dortmund.
However, Los Blancos would be naive to underestimate Edin Terzic’s side, who have defied the odds throughout the Champions League campaign.
Defensive solidity has been the hallmark of Dortmund’s run to the final. It was on show in their semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, with a pair of 1-0 wins across two legs eliminating the Ligue 1 club.
Der BVB have not featured in the Champions League final since they fell to defeat against Bayern at Wembley in 2013, and they will be desperate to avoid another gut-wrenching finale in London.
The Road to Wembley
Real Madrid
Madrid breezed through the group stage before beating RB Leipzig 2-1 on aggregate to set up a mouth-watering quarter-final date with defending champions Manchester City.
There was a general feeling that whoever came out on top in that clash of the titans could end up claiming the title in June so both teams delivered a thrilling spectacle.
They shared the spoils in a hugely entertaining 3-3 draw in Spain, before battling to a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium. Madrid ultimately eliminated the champions on penalties.
They faced Bayern in the semi-finals, playing out a 2-2 draw in Bavaria before pulling off an outstanding comeback to seal a 2-1 win in the second leg to book their ticket to Wembley.
Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund’s run to the Champions League final was equally thrilling, with the team skipping past some of the best sides in Europe to progress to the knockout phase.
They made light work of PSV Eindhoven in the last-16 but needed a massive performance at Signal Iduna Park to beat Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals.
After succumbing to a 2-1 win in the Spanish capital, Dortmund turned the tie around in front of the famous Yellow Wall, running out 4-2 winners to seal a 5-4 aggregate win over Diego Simeone’s side.
They went into their semi-final clash against PSG as slight underdogs, but they dispatched them comfortably to set up a date with Madrid in the final.
Madrid Impossible to Oppose at Wembley
The Champions League final will be the last of Europe’s three tournaments to be played after the Europa League and the Europa Conference League finals.
The Europa League final was staged in Dublin, where Irish fans witnessed Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak grind to a halt as Atalanta claimed a commanding 3-0 win.
The game sparked a flurry of betting activity on the Emerald Isle, with punters eager to wager on the prestigious final at the Aviva Stadium.
The best betting apps in Ireland will be inundated with wagers from Irish bettors when the Champions League final is staged at Wembley.
Madrid will be a popular pick with savvy Irish punters as they strive to clinch their 15th title and it would be a major surprise if they failed to get the job done.
Their pedigree in Europe’s most prestigious tournament is unprecedented, and it appears the only way to stop them from lifting the title is to ensure they don’t make it to the final.
Madrid’s Champions League record is absurd. They have reached the showpiece 17 times, winning 14. You have to go back over four decades for the last time they lost a Champions League final.
However, while the odds are firmly stacked against Dortmund, it would be silly to write them off before a ball is kicked, considering they have developed a knack for causing upsets.
Winning the Champions League title would be the perfect send-off for Marco Reus, but Dortmund must overcome the most decorated club in the competition’s history to make their dreams a reality.
Both teams are expected to deliver a thrilling spectacle, but Madrid should emerge victorious and deliver a winning return to punters who wager on them.
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