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Borussia Dortmund will battle Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Final on Saturday afternoon as both clubs look to secure the title of the best team in Europe.
The German club has only won the Champions League one time in 1996-97 and last appeared in the final in 2012-13. Meanwhile, Madrid holds the record for the most competition championships and is looking to add yet another to its gaudy count.
Here’s a look at our Champions League Final odds, picks and predictions:
Champions League Final odds and preview
The match pits the unassuming, blue-collared nature of Dortmund — not even the largest club in Germany — against the Goliath that has ruled the competition for decades.
Dortmund enters the match fresh off a 4-0 win over SV Darmstadt 98 in the Bundesliga. They beat PSG 1-0 in both semifinal legs and only tasted defeat twice in 12 Champions League matches en route to the final.
Madrid tied both of its recent matches against Real Betis and Villareal and did not lose a Champions League match. However, it didn’t dominate its opponents, as it managed three wins (one on penalties) and three draws in its last six matches in the competition.
Dortmund’s job will be to remain resolute in defense and deal with the speed of the Madrid attack. They’ll also need to use their consistent solidarity to overcome the Spanish side’s experience in the competition.
This will be the final match at Dortmund for club legend Marco Reus, who has been with the team since 2012. Madrid’s Toni Kroos will also retire at the conclusion of the match after amassing one of the best resumes of any midfielder.
The match will be broadcast on CBS at 3 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, June 1.
Dortmund vs. Real Madrid predictions: Dortmund to lift the cup (+250 or better)
Madrid has the better team on paper and more experience — that much is true. But Dortmund was more impressive in the semifinal with consecutive victories over PSG and also has more added motivation from their drought in the competition compared to Madrid’s dominance.
The German club is quick on the counter-attack and has forwards that can have a run at the Madrid defense, which often sits higher up the pitch because they control possession for so long.
The battle of the midfield will go a long way to determining the winner. Madrid has the technical advantage but likes to get players forward and could suffer in the engine room later in the match.
The Spanish side has also needed late-game moments to propel them to the final. They deserve credit for coming up clutch when needed, but Dortmund has quietly taken care of business without ever breaking their unassuming mold.
Champions League Final prop bets: Real Madrid over 4.5 corners (+132 or better)
Dortmund’s center-backs, Mats Hummels and Nico Schlotterbeck, aren’t the quickest pairing in the world, and Julian Ryerson and Ian Maatsen on the outside aren’t as quick as Vinicius Junior, Rorygo or Federico Valverde. As such, attacking the wings will be crucial for Madrid.
The German team is likely going to play a lower defensive line out of possession and concede the ball as they often did against PSG (30.5% possession in the second leg, 42.7% in the first). That should give Madrid more room on the wings to explore.
The concern is that a lower defensive block could take the sting out of Madrid’s attack, but their wide players love to have a run at defenders and should help get this over the total.
Best Champions League betting sites
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Grant is a Virginia-based writer for Catena Media who graduated from Virginia Tech in 2021 with a degree in sports media & analytics. He has contributed to well-known publications such as Forbes, and appeared on the VSiN TV network. You can keep up with Grant’s work here or by checking out his YouTube channel “The Sitch With Grant Mitchell.”
