The standout event of the 2023-24 European football season is almost here. On Saturday evening, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund will take to the pitch at Wembley Stadium in London for the Champions League final – Los Blancos are aiming for their 15th crown, Dortmund want their second.
The Champions League final is undoubtedly one of the biggest betting events in sport, and plenty of punters will be using soccer betting odds at 1Bet. The likelihood is that most will fancy Real Madrid, and they are the bookies’ favourites to win another European trophy.
It should be an incredibly captivating occasion at Wembley, and despite Real Madrid being seen as a significant better team than Dortmund, the disparity between the teams will certainly not be on show. Edin Terzic’s side, who only finished fifth in the Bundesliga, have been exceptional in the 23-24 Champions League, having won the “Group of Death” ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Newcastle United, before seeing off PSV Eindhoven, Atletico Madrid and PSG again in the knockout stages.
Real Madrid’s group was undoubtedly easier, but their run to the final was more challenging than Dortmund’s. Carlo Ancelotti’s men edged past RB Leipzig in the round of 16, before knocking out holders Manchester City in the quarter-finals on penalties. They had been heading for an exit in the semis, before Joselu Mato’s quickfire double send them past Bayern Munich, winning 4-3 on aggregate.
What makes Real Madrid favourites is the amount of matchwinners in their line-up. Vinicius Junior, who has been fantastic once again in this season’s competition, and Jude Bellingham are the obvious names, but Rodrygo Goes can equally make the difference, as he has had several clutch moments in the Champions League since joining in 2019. Furthermore, Toni Kroos – playing his final club match before retirement – will probably run the show in midfield, alongside Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde.
Dortmund have their own matchwinners at their disposal, perhaps none more so than Jadon Sancho, who was in spectacular form against PSG in the semi-finals. Like Bellingham, he will also be playing on home soil on Saturday, and Ferland Mendy will have to be at his best to keep him quiet.
It remains to be seen how the 2023-24 Champions League final plays out. Real Madrid start as pre-match favourites, and if they play to their best, Dortmund will find it incredibly difficult to stop them. Title number 15 does look on the cards, but it cannot be taken for granted at this stage.
