Simply comparing the historical achievements of both clubs shows the difference between them. Real Madrid is the undisputed dominant player in European competition. This will be the 18th time they will play in the European Cup final, which has been the Champions League since 1992, and they have won 14 of the previous tournaments, certainly making them the most successful club on the Old Continent. His long list of trophies and titles on the international scene is completed with five European Super Cup titles, five Club World Cup titles, three in the previous edition, the Intercontinental Cup, and two European Union Cups.
In the country, the club, which was founded in 1902, has won the championship 36 times and won the Spanish Cup 20 times.
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Borussia, although not an unknown team, cannot be compared with such a collection of successes. She will play in the final of the prestigious competition for the third time, her only victory being in 1997. Half a year later, she will add the Intercontinental Cup to the list. In addition, in 1966 she won the Winners’ Cup. National accolades include eight championship titles, including the last one in 2012, with the Polish trio of Robert Lewandowski, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Lukasz Piszczyk, as well as five DFB-Pokal victories.
Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic is aware of the difference in capabilities and, above all, the experience of both teams in the struggle at the highest stakes, but he does not deprive his players of opportunities.
“We started the Champions League with problems, because we lost in Paris to Paris Saint-Germain and we drew at home to Milan, but then we put in a really good performance, which paved our way to the final. We will play against a very strong team that deserves matches like this.” Like daily bread, this is an unusual experience for us. If we play against Real Madrid 10 times, we will probably lose most of the matches. But in this match, there are 90 or maybe 120 minutes in front of us and maybe even on penalties, and we know that we can win one match, and in a given match we can beat any team, even Real Madrid.”
Terzic, like many of his players, will make his debut in the Champions League final.
He added: “I am still learning everything related to such a unique match. There are details that I lack experience with, so I am taking advice from those who have experienced it before. I hope we do not make any major mistakes while preparing for the final.” Terzic noted, quoted from the European Football Association website.
Just as it is impossible to compare the history and successes of both finalists, it is difficult to compare the accomplishments of the two coaches. Terzic will face a great coaching magician, who in the past was a very good footballer who won two European Cups with Milan. Carlo Ancelotti, who is almost 65 years old, will lead the team in the Champions League final for the sixth time. His record is impressive, having won four times, twice each against Milan (2003 and 2007) and Real Madrid (2014 and 2022). He lost a memorable match in Istanbul in 2005 with Liverpool, when the Rossoneri were 3-0 ahead at half-time, but their rivals eventually prevailed on penalties, with their goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek the hero of the series.
The Italian has one piece of advice for his players in the final days before the decisive confrontation.
“Last week, the last days and hours before the final is the time to enjoy the moment. The final was already a success. We will think about the challenge and the opponent on Friday, the day before the match. We have a lot of self-confidence, we have experience from similar matches, including those in We were favourites, I hope that allows us to control our emotions, but we will be playing against a team that fought brilliantly in the previous rounds and, among others, Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, showed great skills and great commitment.
However, his side had a theoretically more difficult road to Wembley, because in the quarter-finals and semi-finals they had to deal with defending champions Manchester City and Bayern Munich, respectively.
“No matter what happened along the way, the most important match is always a new hand. The excitement and emotions are different. This is my ninth final, including the final when I was a footballer. And it is always the same thing – joy, and shortly before the match “There was uncertainty and fear, and on Saturday afternoon, everyone will have nerves and a cold sweat, but we can handle it. I trust my team almost all year and nothing should surprise us,” he added.
The Royal side’s style in the Champions League is well illustrated by the results, having won eight of their 12 matches so far this season, and drawn the remaining four. Borussia suffered two defeats on their way to the final – one in the group stage and one in the knockout stage.
Carlito, an intelligent tactician and coach with excellent relationships with the players, has a serious dilemma to solve before the final – who should start in goal? Whether the Ukrainian Andriy Lunin, who is one of the heroes of the entire successful season, or the experienced Belgian Thibaut Courtois, returning after a serious knee injury.
“For different reasons, they both deserve to play in the final,” the Italian said. “Lunin has defended amazingly this season. Courtois? We all know his skills. We have a really difficult decision to make…”
“After the injury and the long absence, the hierarchy changes. I have to prove again that I am better to play. But I am happy because I am healthy, I am training and I finally got a chance.” matches,” admitted Courtois, who tore ligaments in his left leg in August 2023 with a knee injury, and in March, when he was about to return to the field, he suffered another injury.
“I will wait until the end to announce the name, otherwise the debate on this topic will end. I like to listen to such speculation,” Ancelotti summed up the goalkeeper’s case with a smile.
Saturday’s fight will be a special one for Jodi Bellingham. Last summer, the Englishman moved to the Santiago Bernabeu from Borussia for 100 million euros. Now he is warning his new colleagues not to underestimate his former partners.
“For me, this is a special match, but I have to put my feelings aside. In order to win, we have to give everything we have and give our full potential. If that happens, it will be difficult to beat us. But Dortmund is a team.” A team with character, courage and devoid of complications,” said the 20-year-old attacking midfielder, who admitted that the dream of winning the Champions League was one of the reasons he decided to move to Real Madrid.
Competition in the Champions League, apart from the sporting and prestige aspects, also has a serious financial dimension.
UEFA will divide a total of more than two billion euros between the participants. Real Madrid has already received more than 82.2 million euros for the results achieved in this edition, and the final victory could bring in another 4.5 million euros. Combined with the money from the achievements factor of the last ten years, the Spanish club can count on more than 118 million euros. In addition, there will be profits from the sale of television rights and marketing, which in the case of a brand like Real amounted to around 35 million euros last season.
Borussia is in second place in the current standings, but currently has received less than €16 million.
Slavko Vincic will be the main referee for the final. The 44-year-old Slovenian has been an international referee since 2010. As reported by UEFA, this will be his second final in club competitions under its sponsorship – in 2022, he officiated the decisive Europa League match, in which Eintracht Frankfurt beat Rangers. FC on penalties in Seville.
This season, he managed seven Champions League matches, including the rematch in the quarter-finals between Borussia and Atletico Madrid (4-2). Previously, he was a referee for this team’s Europa League match in 2018 (1-2 vs. FC Salzburg). Interestingly, it will be the first time it will host a match involving Real Madrid.
Champions League Final 2024: Where to watch Borussia and Real Madrid?
Stream Borussia – Real Champions League Final on Polsat, Polsat Sport 1, Polsat Sport Premium 1 and online on Polsat Box Go. Match starts at 9pm Pre-match studio from 6pm on Posat Sport 1 and Polsat Sport Premium 1.
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