The sixty-ninth season of the European elite club tournament (the thirty-second since it was named the UEFA Champions League) ends with the final game finally upon us. Spanish Champions – Real Madrid and German team – Borussia Dortmund have emerged as the two notable finalists. The finals will be played on June 1, 2024, at Wembley Stadium in London, England.
Real Madrid will be battling for a record 15th UCL glory when they feature at the finals in Wembley. The Spanish giants have played 17 finals since the tournament’s 1955 inauguration. Borussia Dortmund won the competition in their first final appearance in 1997 and lost to League rivals Bayern Munich in the last Wembley finals in 2013.
The 2023/24 UEFA Champions League Finals will be an epic showdown of the two footballing giants vying for European glory. As the world eagerly anticipates the clash, let’s delve into their previous meetings, UCL journey, and head-to-head records.
Previous UCL UCL Meetings
Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund have a rich history in European competitions, having faced each other numerous times. Their encounters have often been intense battles filled with drama and excitement.
1997/98 Semi-Finals
Both Powerhouses first faced off against each other in the following year after Dortmund’s first European victory (1997). Real Madrid beat Dortmund 2-0 in the first leg in Spain and held on to a goalless draw to make it to the finals, which they subsequently won.
2002/23 Matchday 9 & 10
Then defending champions Real Madrid featured in Group C with Borussia Dortmund. The Spanish side beat Dortmund 2-1 at the Bernabeu on Matchday 9 and were held to a 1-1 draw on Matchday 10.
2012/13 Group D & Semi-Finals
In the 2012/13 Champions League, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund were drawn together in Group B. Both powerhouses faced off four times in the Champions League that season. In the Group stages, Dortmund beat their Spanish opponents 2-1 in the first encounter and were held to a 2-2 draw at the Bernabeu. In the Semi-finals, the club’s highest goal scorer, Robert Lewandowski dropped four on Los Blancos at the Signal Iduna Park giving them a 4-1 victory ahead of the 2nd Leg game in Madrid, which they lost 2-0 but advanced to the finals on aggregate (4-3). They eventually lost the finals to Bayern Munich.
2013/14 Quarter-finals
The matches between the two sides were closely contested, with both teams showcasing their attacking prowess. Real Madrid emerged victorious in their first encounter, defeating Borussia Dortmund 3-0 at home. However, Borussia Dortmund exacted revenge in the return fixture at Signal Iduna Park, securing a convincing 2-0 win. The victory wasn’t enough to beat Real Madrid to the semi-finals on aggregate. Real Madrid went on to win the tournament.
2016/17 Group F
Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund faced off twice in Group F and both games in Germany and Spain ended in a 2-2 draw. Madrid were crowned champions after defeating Juventus in the finals.
2017/18 Group H
The two teams found themselves facing off once again in the Group stages. The tie was fiercely contested, with both legs providing moments of brilliance. In the first leg in Germany (Matchday 2), Real Madrid emerged as the victors with a 3-1 win, thanks to Bale and a brace from C. Ronaldo. Borussia Dortmund mounted a stunning comeback in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Lucas Vasquez scored the decisive goal in the 81st minute to secure a 3-2 victory to Madrid in Matchday 6 and put them on top of Group H. Real Madrid beat Liverpool in the finals to claim their 13th UCL glory.
These encounters highlight the unpredictable nature of football and the competitive spirit between the two teams. As they prepare to face off in the UEFA Champions League final once again, both teams will be eager to write the next chapter in their storied rivalry and etch their names into footballing history.
Road To The 2023/24 UCL Finals
Real Madrid’s Journey
Real Madrid has had an exceptional journey in this season’s Champions League, remaining unbeaten thus far. Placed in a challenging group alongside previous Italian Champions Napoli, S.C. Braga, and Union Berlin, they showed their class and dominance by winning all their matches, a feat matched only by holding champions Manchester City.
In the knockout stage, they faced their first German side in the competition – RB Leipzig in the Round of 16, securing a narrow 2-1 aggregate victory. However, their quarter-final encounter with Manchester City was their toughest challenge. Despite a tense two-legged affair that ended 4-4 on aggregate, Real Madrid triumphed over City in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout, thanks to the heroics of young goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.
Their semi-final victory showcased the trademark resilience of Real Madrid. Trailing 1-0 against the formidable Bayern Munich in the Santiago Bernabeu after securing a 2-2 draw at the Allianz Arena, their fate seemed uncertain until the 88th minute. Then, in a dramatic turn of events, Joeslu scored two goals within three minutes, propelling them to a victory and securing their place in the finals for the 17th time in their history.
Borussia Dortmunds Journey
Borussia Dortmund were the first to secure their place in the 2024 finals. They faced a daunting challenge in the “Group of Death” this season, alongside powerhouse teams PSG, AC Milan, and Newcastle, and came out Top of the table. Despite a rocky start with a 2-0 loss to PSG and a goalless draw against AC Milan, Dortmund steadily gained momentum. They showcased their resilience by securing victories in their next three games with Newcastle (twice) and Milan, culminating in a 1-1 draw against PSG to clinch the top spot in Group F on goal difference.
Their journey through the knockout stages saw them face PSV Eindhoven in the Round of 16, where they emerged victorious with an aggregate 3-1 win. However, their quarter-final encounter with Atletico Madrid proved to be a stern test. After losing the first leg 2-1, Dortmund rallied at home with a commanding 4-2 victory to progress to the semi-finals.
In the semi-finals, Dortmund faced a formidable opponent in PSG, who had previously bested them in the group stage. Despite the odds stacked against them, Dortmund displayed remarkable determination and skill, securing narrow 1-0 victories in both legs to advance to their third-ever UEFA Champions League final. This marks their first appearance in the final since the 2012-2013 season, further solidifying their status as a European football powerhouse.
BVB Vs. RMA Head-to-Head:
Real Madrid is by far the most successful club in Europe, with a trophy cabinet boasting 14 European Cups (8x UCL and 6x European Champions Club cup), 5x FIFA Club World Cup, 36x La Liga Championships, 5x UEFA Supercup, 2x UEFA Cup, 20 Spanish Cups, 13 Spanish super cups and 2x Copa Eva Duarte.
They most recently beat Barcelona and Girona to this season’s La Liga trophy and are in a race to complete the Double against Dortmund. They haven’t lost on home soil this season and have not been beaten in 22 games. Real Madrid head Coach Carlo Ancelotti is more experienced in the competitions and would be managing his fifth UCL game against Dortmund. Only two senior Real Madrid players (David Alana and Aurelien Tchouameni) will likely be unavailable for the game due to injury.
Borussia Dortmund are eight-time German Champions, 1x Champions League Champions and Cup winners Cup, 5x German Cup winners, 6x German Super Cup winners, and 2x Western German Cup winners.
They finished fifth in the Bundesliga but will gain entrance to the Champions League next season regardless of the final result through European Performance Spots. They’ve lost two of their last five games and several key players to injury (Abdoulaye Kamara, Julien Duranville, Ramy Bensebaini, Samuel Bamba, and Sebastien Haller).
The head-to-head records of the encounters between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund offer an insight into their recent rivalry. Since the UEFA Champions League era commenced in 1993, Real Madrid has never lost in the UCL final game. Their unmatched record in the competition has consistently positioned them as formidable contenders.
As the 2024 UEFA Champions League finale approaches, Real Madrid rightfully assumes the role of favorites, given their storied history and track record of success in the tournament. Their reputation precedes them, and they enter the final with the weight of expectation on their shoulders.
However, Borussia Dortmund has proven to be a force to be reckoned with through the 2023-24 UCL season. Their performance and unwavering determination have earned them a well-deserved place in the final. Dortmund’s resilience and skill cannot be underestimated, and they can rise to the occasion when it matters most. In what promises to be a fiercely contested encounter, the eventual winner will undoubtedly be decided on the pitch on June 1st, 2024.
UEFA Champions League Finals Tickets Are Available!
Ensure you mark your calendar, as the upcoming finals promise to be electrifying. Be Live at the Action by reserving your seats promptly! Get Champions League Final tickets while they are still available. Official websites are “Sold Out” due to the increasingly high demand for these tickets. Secondary marketplaces, on the other hand, remain your optimal choice for securing a spot for you and your loved ones in the games you cherish.
The UEFA 2023/24 Champions League Finals between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund promises to be a spectacle for football fans worldwide. With both team’s rich history, impressive journeys through the Group and Knockout stages, and domestic records both teams are primed to deliver a memorable final that will be remembered for years.
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