Borussia Dortmund - Real Madrid summary: score, goals, highlights, Champions League final
Borussia Dortmund - Real Madrid: as it happened
Let's leave it there!
Thanks for following the action!
I think I speak on behalf of all football fans when I say congratulations to Madrid and thank you to Toni Kroos.
Joe
Bellingham called tonight 'the greatest of my life'
Is it the first of many for Jude at Madrid?
Carlo Ancelotti post-game:
Having a good team, good players and a good system is the secret.
Dortmund did what they had to do, defend well and transition well. I wanted us to play better in the second half and we did. It was tough.
Kroos has finished in the best way, how he wanted.
Tomorrow I'll smoke a cigar and put my sunglasses on.
BEN STANSALL / AFP
One more of Madrid's celebrations
Ancelotti is in full voice for this one!
Dylan Martinez / REUTERS
Here's the one you've been waiting for...
Real Madrid's players celebrate with the trophy.
Real Madrid Femenino cheering on their teammates
Olga Carmona and Carla Camacho are in party mode!
A fab stat from MisterChip
Toni Kroos is the first player in 29 years who retires from professional football winning a European Cup and being a starter in the final. The last player to do so was Frank Rijkaard in 1995.
INA FASSBENDER / AFP
Here's a snap of the first goal
Dani Carvajal's header at the near post was just the part of the script all Madridistas were waiting for. After so much suffering, the goals gave them the life, the confidence and the belief that they were going to do it.
ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP
Some more celebration photos
Because who doesn't want to see them?
Bellingham wins the Champions League at his first attempt with Madrid
The end of a sensational season for the Englishman.
AND NACHO LIFTS THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
What a moment for the Real Madrid captain!
And here come the Real Madrid players!
Smiles all round from Los Blancos as they get their gold medals.
Kroos gets his moment with the fans
The German is getting a fantastic goodbye from his beloved fans.
The Dortmund players are receiving their medals
Ancelotti gives a huge hug to Edin Terzic, who gave his counterpart a tough challenge on the night.
Kiko Huesca / EFE
Ancelotti breaks a record
Ancelotti has now tasted victory in the Champions League on five occasions, three times with Los Blancos and twice with AC Milan.
He is the most decorated coach in the history of the competition.
GLYN KIRK / AFP
Rodrygo and Vini Jr run straight to the fans
The two Brazilians ran straight to the fans at the final whistle - and they're still in the crowd!
Real Madrid did 'a Real Madrid'
The first half was completely dominated by Borussia Dortmund, who put them under Mariana Trench levels of pressure, attacking with 4, 5 and sometimes 6 players who constantly piled forward at any opportunity.
Fullkrug hit the post, Adeyemi missed an open goal and Brandt send one inches wide as Madrid survived time and time again, despite it looking impossible they would be able to hang on.
The second half was slightly different, with Madrid finding marginally more spaces and pushing Dortmund back at times. They did, however look more dangerous on set-pieces and it was Dani Carvajal who broke the deadlock following a Toni Kroos corner.
It was here where Madrid got into their groove and started to dominate. Dortmund became nervous and saw the ball turned over high up the pitch, where Madrid jumped and attacked with Bellingham, who played to Vini Jr inside the box.
The attacker send a scuffed shot over Kobel and that, dear reader, was that. Real Madrid, despite having just 0.09 xG in the first half, walk away with their fifteenth Champions League.
Congratulations to Real Madrid
What an achievement from Real Madrid, who are crowned winners of Europe's elite competition for the 15th time. It is the perfect send-off for the outgoing Toni Kroos, who has now played his last game for Los Blancos.
It is also the record 6th Champions League victory with Real Madrid for Nacho, Dani Carvajal and Luka Modric, all of whom write their name into history having won the same as Paco Gento.
Jude Bellingham has also capped off a dream debut season with the side, winning the trophy that means the most to the club in his first season in Spain.
FULL-TIME
REAL MADRID ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE FOR THE 15TH TIME
Madrid defend the free-kick from Dortmund and the Germans have a corner.
Less than a minute to go...
OFF: Vini Jr
ON: Lucas
Carvajal heads back to Courtois and the sigh of relief in Wembley is as loud as some of the songs we've heard from the Madridistas.
5 added minutes.
Camavinga goes down after a late challenge from Fullkrug.
OFF: Rodrygo
ON: Militão
Militão is preparing to come on for Real Madrid.
OFF: Sancho
ON: Bynoe-Gittens
Fullkrug was offside as the ball came in and the striker sees his lifeline taken away.
NO GOAL!!!
OFFSIDE!!!!
Back underway.
Toni Kroos gives a thunderous cheer to the fans and takes his last steps on the pitch as a Real Madrid player. What a legend.
OFF: Bellingham, Kroos
ON: Modric, Joselu
A high turnover from Madrid saw Bellingham spin on the edge of the box, face the goal and pick Vinicius Jr out in space on the left.
The Brazilian - who actually mis-hit the shot - stuck it into the ground and saw it bounce over Kobel and into the net.
Nacho's header from the resulting corner was superbly saved from Kobel, who is keeping his side in the game at this point.
SAVE AGAIN FROM KOBEL
Camavinga sent a curling effort from 30 yards out that saw Kobel sprawling across goal to pluck it out of the top corner of the goal!
HUGE SAVE FROM KOBEL
OFF: Can, Brandt
ON: Malen, Haller
SAVE FROM KOBEL
Kroos' shot was well-placed but so was the goalkeeper.
Indeed, it is Kroos over the ball.
A free-kick is given to Madrid after Camavinga is brought down right on the edge of the box. Prime Toni Kroos territory, you might say...
Sensational play from Real Madrid: Vini plays in Camavinga down the left, who cuts back to Bellingham on the penalty spot. The Englishman had time to take a touch but his shot was sent just inches wide of the far post!
BELLINGHAM JUST WIDE
Madrid are, as you might imagine, in no rush to get rid of the ball that they're spraying around the pitch.
Back underway. Fifteen to go.
Kroos swings in the corner and it's the right-back who rises highest at the front post to head past Kobel!
Vini Jr just delighfully put the ball Ryerson's legs near the box to win a corner for Madrid.
OFF: Adeyemi
ON: Reus
Marco Reus is preparing to come on for Dortmund.
Twenty minutes to go...
Jude Bellingham is half a centimetre away from making contact with Vini Jr's cross at the far post.
Kobel was way off his line and all it needed was the lightest of flicks. If only he hadn't cut his hair.
HUGE CHANCE FOR REAL MADRID
Sabitzer clears Bellingham's pass inside the Dortmund box. That was sensational play from Madrid, who once again put together a brilliant passing move.
It's a good thing the roof is open at Wembley, as Ancelotti's eyebrow has not been higher all season...
Rodrygo finally shows he's not wearing jeans and flip-flops, racing towards the left-back before speeding past him and watching his cross go out for a well-earned corner.
Dortmund are sitting as straight as a row of dogs at Crufts as Madrid pass, pass, pass in front of them, 30 yards from goal.
Dortmund break: Adeyemi sends a wonderful ball to the far post and Fullkrug - who is all alone - fires a header at the palms of the Belgian stopper.
SAVE FROM COURTOIS
It's the first fail from Dortmund so far in the game and Madrid recover the ball, charging forward.
Rodrygo tries to get the crowd going as Madrid conceded another corner.
We've played just over an hour and although Madrid have had the better chances this half, I wouldn't stretch so far to say that they're comfortable.
The pace of the game has dropped significantly, which is very thoughtful from the players.
A wayward defensive header from Schlotterbeck finds Carvajal at the far post, but his shot towards Kobel is poor and easily collected.
CHANCE FOR CARVAJAL
Carvajal goes down after alate challenge from Adeyemi, who goes over to help him. The right-back is having none of it and slaps the forward's hand away.
The referee, who didn't give a free-kick, comes over to diffuse the situation.
A couple of loose balls from Dortmund momentarily relieve the pressure on Real Madrid, but they still can't find their groove.
Also, I haven't mentioned it yet, but poor Rodrygo has been almost completely anonymous until now.
Dortmund are piling the pressure on Madrid now, and Los Blancos have once again been forced back into their defensive third.
My, oh my. Now Dortmund have a corner after another 3,000lightning bolts race towards Courtois in the Madrid goal. The white shirts defend well and clear the danger before they come back, winning another corner!
Well, it doesn't need me to say it - here comes the 'but' - butthat'smuch more like it from Madrid...
CARVAJAL HEADS JUST OVER THE BAR FROM THE CORNER
Kroos's free-kick is whipped towards goal and pushed behind by the goalkeeper!
HUGE SAVE FROM KOBEL
Kroos stands over the ball...
Vini Jr breaks away and runs 50 yards towards the goal. He wins a free-kick right on the left corner of the box after being brought down by Hummels.
The first corner of the second half is won by Dortmund after a nice attack down the right.
Real Madrid have started with a high intensity on the ball, but Dortmund are standing strong.
No changes from either side.
Second half underway!
Los Blancos get us going.
Here come the players!
We're almost ready to go...
Overly enthusiastic supporters evaded security at Wembley, taking videos and imitating Cristiano Ronaldo of all people.
How can Real Madrid stop Dortmund?
Ancelotti needs to tweak his system if Madrid are to get a hold of things as it stands.
Every time Dortmund attack they are sending 5 or even 6 players screeching forward to attack the back line of the Spanish side and sooner or later, something's going to click for the Black & Yellow.
Opta with the goods:
1.68 to 0.09 must be one of the highest negative xG differences that Madrid have had all season.
Half-time thoughts:
The best thing about that half for Madrid was that the whistle was eventually blown by the referee.
Borussia Dortmund have been the better side in all departments, knowing exactly when to press, when to sit back and when to attack. Apart from the few times that Bellingham has been given a few too many yards to spin and drive at the defence, Madrid have been stifled at every turn.
Brandt sent an early warning sign when his shot was drilled just past the far post but it didn't take long for them to come again.
The next alarm bell was rang when Adeyemi found just shy of 3 acres of space behind Nacho and Rüdiger. He even managed to take on Courtois, but a heavy touch gave Carvajal and Mendy time to recover.
Then came the biggest chance of the half. Another ball behind the back line caused havoc for Madrid and Fullkrug got on the end of the pass before sending his shot bouncing off the far post.
From then on, it's been finely poised but incredibly tense, with Madrid looking shaky on more than one occasion.
Then again, when has that ever stopped them from winning?
HALF-TIME!
Well, that was interesting to say the least!
Another corner for BVB. This time it's Maatsen who sees his cross cleared away by Bellingham.
Dortmund win a corner after Mendy's loose touch is judged to have crossed the byline. Dortmund are full of beans...
Madrid put together a sensational 20+ string of passes together that sends Dortmund scrambling. It ends after a slightly sloppy touch from Carvajal is cut out by Maatsen.
4 added minutes.
Despite their woes on the pitch, the Madridistas are still bouncing in the stands. They know it's very much not over.
An absolutely colossal challenge from Hummels on Vinicius is celebrated like a goal, and rightly so.
A scary moment at the back from Madrid as Camavinga clears a low cross from the right. Kroos asks for calm as Mendy goes down to buy some time for Los Blancos, who are struggling to play through the press.
Kroos misplaces a pass (!) and Dortmund break.
Sabitzer finds an inch on the edge of the box and fires a low drive at Courtois that the Belgian pushes out for a corner.
Schlotterbeck brings Vinicius down on the halfway line and avoids a booking... before he complains to the referee and gets a booking.
Five minutes to go until half-time...
Some nice play from Madrid sees them move from left to right before a heavy touch from Carvajal stops the progression down the wing.
Ancelotti's side are playing keep-ball at the back as they look to take the sting out of the swarm of bees that are following their every step.
7 shots from Dortmund so far; just 2 for Madrid.
Vini has gone into Mr Vincic's book.
Kober's down in the BVB goal after a late leg is left in by Vinicius, who doesn't want to know anything about a foul.
A half chance for Madrid after a heavy touch from Carvajal down the right sees the ball fly out behind the goal.
Now it's Madrid who can't get a touch of the ball as Dortmund pass, pass, pass their way around the white shirts. The confidence levels are high - as they should be, given what we've seen.
Dortmund break from the corner and Adeyemi goes down in the box after a shove from Mendy, but I'm not having that. As you were.
Madrid win a corner...
Adeyemi breaks down the opposite wing, past Carvajal, and forces a low save from Courtois!
The rebound almost lands on the head of Brandt, but the Belgian catches the effort!
CHANCE FOR DORTMUND
Vini squirms past Ryerson and sends a deadly ball across the face of goal that can't quite reach a Madrid player running in...
CHANCE FOR MADRID
We're back underway. Can is on the pitch and looks OK. Madrid with the ball.
Dortmund captain Emre Can is down and receiving treatment...
All of a sudden, Madrid need to keep cool heads and ride their way through the Dortmund noise.
The ball is slipped through the Madrid defence and Fullkrug slides onto the ball, poking it past Courtois and off the far post!
DORTMUND OFF THE POST!!!
Madrid come again and Vini sends a cross to the far post that's cleared by Maatsen. Madness at Wembley...
Wow, that was huge. A long ball over the top finds Adeyemi all on his own and just 25 yards out. He races towards Courtois and tricks him with a stepover, sliding past him in front of an open goal...
However, his touch is way too heavy to the left and this gives time for Carvajal and Mendy to get back and defend.
WHAT A CHANCE FOR ADEYEMI
We're twenty minutes in and despite the intensity from the Spanish side, the biggest chance has still been that of Brandt.
Dortmund are dropping considerably when Madrid take the ball in buildup, something which is giving Toni Kroos a lot of time and space to play his favourite game of opposition desruction.
Ah, maybe not like that. Sabitzer leaves a leg in on the Englishman who goes down in pain.
A superb challenge from Mendy stops the ball from Ryerson that was aimed at Sancho on the right. Real Madrid recover and once again, it's Bellingham who turns in the middle third and drives forward.
Dortmund need to find a way to halt him.
Hummels times his challenge to perfection and steals the ball from Vini Jr, who is being a busy bee in all areas of the final third.
A half chance for Madrid as Vini Jr finds enough space inside the box to turn and shoot, but his curled effort from the right side is sent way over the bar.
The first big one of the game comes for the Germans.
A long ball finds Fullkrug in the left channel who plays inside to Brandt. He takes a nice touch just yards from goal but sends his shot wide of the far post.
CHANCE FOR DORTMUND
Ryerson does superbly well to stop Vini Jr down the left wing after Bellingham had taken the ball in the middle and found the Brazilian in space.
The Englishman is doing well in the early stages to find room behind Dortmund's midfield and turn towards Kober in goal.
Fantastic pressure from Valverde sees Schlotterbeck make a mistake at the back and send the ball out for a throw near his box.
Some nice interplay on the edge of the German box sees the ball land at the feet of the Uruguayan, but his shot is sliced over the bar.
The high balls in behind the BVB defence are certainly a promising option for Real Madrid, who have tried a few so far. For now, the Germans are coping well.
A long ball from Courtois finds Bellingham's head, who tries to flick it over the man mountain that is Mats Hummels. Rodrygo had made a darting run in behind but the Black & Yellow cover well.
Solid defending from Nacho, who got a foot in well to stop Brandt's threaded pass through the lines towards Fullkrug. This game is being played at approximately 80% the speed of light.
Kroos gets a foot underneath the ball and sends it towards the James Webb telescope, clearing the danger.
Dortmund break down the right, but Madrid recover well before losing the ball. Ryerson steals it again and wins a corner after seeing his cross blocked by Mendy.
Now it's Madrid's turn to keep the ball as both teams feel their way into this final.
The atmosphere is simply sensational, with both sets of fans set to lose their collective voices at around 30 minutes if they keep it up.
I can confirm that the pitch invader got a selfie with Vini Jr.
Madrid instantly win a free-kick on halfway after a strong challenge on Bellingham. The ball is played to Vini Jr who runs it out of play on the left.
Back underway!
Well, to be fair, it's certainly sent the fan noise into overdrive!
Tick, tock... we're still waiting for the 'fan' to be removed.
Who was on the pitch?
It seems like it was a random chancer who just wanted a quick selfie. The game has stopped...
Madrid are in a 4-4-2 in defence, with Bellingham on the left and Valverde on the right of midfield.
Champions League final underway!
The Black & Yellow get us going from left to right at Wembley!
Dortmund will kick us off shortly.
The Chaaaaampiooons!
For one final time this season, the Champions League anthem belts around a stadium in Europe.
Here come the players!
What a noise we have inside Wembley!
The players are in the tunnel!
Ready to go!
Reports of Vini Jr waking up with a high temperature
The Brazilian, according to reports, has had a high temperature for 2 days, and is taking medication to be able to play.
The music show has nearly finished...
I promise, we'll get to the football soon enough. Once Lenny's done with his guitar solo.
Before you ask, it's renowned rock musician Lenny Kravitz who has taken to the stage at the 2024 UEFA Champions League final opening ceremony.
Here's all you need to know on the singer. He's great, although I'm not a fan of the tight leather trousers.
One last push!
Can Dortmund give Marco Reus the perfect send off, or will Real Madrid and Toni Kroos make yet more history?
The votes are in!
It's not as one-sided as you may expect, with many AS USA readers going for the Germans to take a victory in the final.
There's still time for you to have your say, so get involved!
Another huge roar from the crowd!
This time, it was all four sides of the stadium who joined together as both sides made their way down the tunnel to go through the final team talks before kick-off!
The Dortmund fans are not happy
OK, they're happy that their side is in the Champions League final, of course, but they're not too delighted about the recent deal that their club struck with weapons manufacturer Rheinmetall.
A reminder of the starting XIs:
DORTMUND:
GK: Kober
DEF: Ryerson - Hummels - Schlotterbeck - Maatsen
MID: Can - Sabitzer - Sancho - Brandt - Adeyemi
ATT: Fullkrug
REAL MADRID:
GK: Courtois
DEF: Carvajal - Rudiger - Nacho - Mendy
MID: Valverde - Camavinga - Kroos - Bellingham
ATT: Vini Jr - Rodrygo
Famous faces at Wembley!
We've seen Jose Mourinho, Jay-Z and Jurgen Klopp all present at Wembley ahead of kick-off, which is now under half an hour away!
Ancelotti's sweet gesture to his wife has gone viral
The Italian is just a great guy all round. Is there a more respected coach in football right now?
The 41-year-old first joined Dortmund’s backroom team as a scout and youth coach in 2010, working under Jürgen Klopp.
After spells on the coaching staff at Besiktas and West Ham United, Terzic then returned to Dortmund to become an assistant to then-head coach Lucien Favre.
When Favre was sacked at the end of 2020, Terzic was promoted to the role of interim head coach before making way for Marco Rose in 2021. Once Rose was sacked, the job fell to Terzic again.
And now here he is, at the Champions League final.
Here's a few snaps of the 'Yellow Wall' at Wembley
The German fans are bouncing, singing and dancing ahead of kick-off, with the Madrid fans giving it their best shot to keep up!
What happens in case of a tie in the 2024 Champions League final?
Overtime? Penalty kicks?
So many questions. Lucky for you, we've got the answers on what happens if the two sides can't be separated after 90 minutes.
What a noise at Wembley!
Bellingham and co. have just stepped out onto the pitch and now it's the turn of the Madridistas to scream for their players!
BVB in their classic yellow
It's time to thank your particular deity because we've got a clash of home kits in the Champions League final, the undisputed best way for the two teams to fight it out.
No volt green, no lightning bolts or silly collars. Just pure footballing eye candy. This is the stuff that matters.
Don't worry, I didn't forget...
Here's the customary picture of Jude Bellingham during his pre-game ritual of taking to the pitch before everyone else.
He says that he does this in order to calm himself and visualise how he thinks the game will play out.
It's worked pretty well until now, so I'm not going to judge!
Did you know?
Real Madrid are on the hunt for what would be - despite having won the European Cup/Champions League 14 times - only their 5th league and UCL double in their entire history.
Dortmund take to the pitch!
The noise inside Wembley has just increased to insane levels as the Black & Yellow players trot out onto the pitch for their pre-game warmup!
Who've you got your money on?
Andy's given us a great guide to the Champions League odds and predictions, right in time for kick-off.
All the bookmakers have Los Blancos as the favourites: BetMGM has Madrid at -160 and Dortmund at +400.
FanDuel have Madrid at -165, Dortmund at +440 and odds of +320 for the game ending tied on 90 minutes.
Draft Kings have similar odds: -165 for a Madrid win, +320 for a draw and +425 for Dortmund to lift the cup.
PHIL NOBLE / REUTERS
Who's the referee?
In case you missed it earlier, the man with the whistle tonight is Slovenia’s Slavko Vincic.
He made his debut in Slovenia’s first division in 2007 and is now an experienced Champions League referee who has overseen 30 games since his tournament debut in 2016.
He was in charge of Dortmund’s second-leg win over Atlético Madrid in this season’s quarter-finals, which was the second time he has taken charge of a game involving BVB (1 win and 1 loss), but today will be the first time he blows the whistle for Real Madrid.
FRANCK FIFE / AFP
Who to watch: Mats Hummels
Dortmund's rock at the back, Mats Hummels, is my 'one to watch' for the Germans tonight.
The centre-back scored in BVB's second leg win against PSG and given that many believe Dortmund will play on the counter and try to take advantage of set plays, he could be a huge asset for them once again.
Off the ball, his job of containing the two of Vini Jr and Rodrygo will be like trying to catch a wasp with chopsticks. It's certainly something I wouldn't like to do...
Here's how the Bernabéu looks ahead of kick-off
Huge screens have been put on the pitch at the Bernabéu for fans to watch the game from the stands. No more Taylor Swift I guess, sorry!
Real Madrid's arrival to Wembley
Serious faces from the 14-time champions as they made their way into Wembley.
Kroos had his final training session with Real Madrid yesterday
Here's footage of the German's final time at Real Madrid training.
JESUS ALVAREZ ORIHUELA / DIARIO AS
A look back on Real Madrid's semi-final win:
Real Madrid beat Bayern in the last round to stop an all-German final in the Champions League this year.
Of course, it was yet another extraordinary comeback for Real Madrid in the Champions League as they went into the second leg after a goalless draw was played out in Germany.
It was almost unanimously agreed upon by everyone in the Spanish capital that a draw away at the Allianz Arena was a wholly solid result.
But when Alphonso Davies hit a screecher into the top corner of Lunin’s goal at the Bernabéu, people weren’t so sure…
Of course they were, it was just not late enough in the game for the home side to score.
Ex-Stoke, Newcastle and Espanyol forward Joselu is a lifelong Madrid fan, and someone who travelled to Paris with his own money to watch the club beat Liverpool in 2022.
Two years later, he had scored a historic double in two minutes to send Madrid to the final of the Champions League.
Wembley is filling up nicely!
The fans of both teams are making their way into the historic ground as we approach the final hour before kick-off.
JESUS ALVAREZ ORIHUELA / DIARIO AS
Who to watch: Eduardo Camavinga
The Frenchman is starting in place of the injured Tchouaméni in midfield today for Real Madrid and will play a key role in keeping Dortmund's (likely) counterattacking style at bay.
There are not many players who know how to tackle like Camavinga, who uses his frame to the best of his ability to go to ground and be back on his feet before the opponent realises he's lost the ball.
With the ball, the midfielder can progress the play or slow it down and play at his own speed, whatever the team requires.
We've seen some moments where his decision-making has been questionable, but there's always room for improvement, even for the best.
Have your say!
We've got a live poll up and running ahead of the game today!
Have your say on Twitter and if you're feeling brave, drop us a score prediction below!
BVB starting XI out!
It's as we expected for the Black & Yellow who go with the starting XI that many thought Terzic would go for.
Hendrik Deckers / Borussia Dortmund via Getty Imag
A look back on how the semi-final went for Dortmund:
The Black & Yellow overcame French champions PSG in the semi-final this year, denying Mbappé a chance of getting European glory before he departs the side this summer.
Dortmund won 1-0 in both legs of the tie, and defended resolutely in front of the whirlwind PSG attack that threw punch after punch into the yellow wall.
Fullkrug scored in the first leg in Germany to give them a lifeline in Paris but nobody expected such a strong performance from Edin Terzic’s men at the Parc de Princes.
Their perfect game plan kept Mbappé quiet on the wing and it was Mats Hummels who sent the travelling fans into delirium when he headed home past Donnarumma in the second half to double the advantage for the Germans.
PSG hit the frame of the goal on four separate occasions, with Zaïre-Emery missing the best of the opportunities just before Hummels’ header which ultimately was the goal that sent them to their first Champions League final in 11 years.
75,000 Madridistas at the Santiago Bernabéu
The fans of the 14-time European champions are already having a party in the Spanish capital!
Fancy a scarf?
There are plenty of stalls outside Wembley and all over London that are selling merchandise for the game today!
ADAM VAUGHAN / EFE
How much would you pay for a ticket to the game?
Both participating teams received an allocation of 25,000 tickets out of an 86,600 capacity for the Champions League final, with 10,000 tickets being made available for fans worldwide.
The rest are for hospitality and corporate guests.
Here's the official price list for the tickets:
· Fans First- £60 ($76)
· Category 3 - £160 ($204)
· Category 2 - £430 ($548)
· Category 1 - £610 ($777)
There is no official ticket resaleplatform this year, meaning fans who are unable to go must opt to get their money back instead.
Demand has been sky-high for the game, with third-party ticket resale website StubHub listing a few remaining seats close to €3000 a few days before the game, with the top prices well over €20,000.
Real Madrid arrive at Wembley
The 14-time champions have arrived at Wembley!
How is this not Jude's favourite UCL goal?
If you missed it, scroll down and find the video of Jude Bellingham saying that this is not his favourite. Madness.
Take a look at this:
The good folks over at BeSoccer Pro Towers have given us this handy graphic of the breakdown of Real Madrid's goals this season.
A quick look at the trophy before kick-off
As the clock ticks down, the nerves shoot up.
'Big Ears' is on offer for the winners, along with their name written into the history books forever...
Ancelotti pre-game quotes:
For me the most important thing in this type of game is to get clear ideas in the players’ heads about what to do on the pitch. When I'm clearer, the team is less nervous, I will focus a lot on the tactical aspect.
Emotions come and everyone handles them with the character they have. We will have negative emotions before the game of fear and worry, but they're an important part of doing things well. I'm very confident because the team has shown fantastic quality throughout the season. Another very important component is the collective sacrifice and attitude.
One thing is playing this type of match, which is the most important match of the season. And another thing is that we're playing at Wembley because it's a historic stadium. We're happy to play here and we hope our team will be at its best tomorrow.
Fans in the US are getting involved!
The biggest game in the European football calendar was never going to go unnoticed in the States!
JESUS ALVAREZ ORIHUELA / DIARIO AS
One last dance for Toni
Toni Kroos has become a true Real Madrid legend since his arrival in 2014. The German has played for a decade at what may just be the biggest club in the world and season after season he has shown his talent and growing experience of not only how to handle the pressure but to thrive under it.
News of his retirement came as a shock to many fans and perhaps many teammates, given their sad reaction on social media.
The German leaves a huge legacy at the club and a gigantic hole is there to be filled next season with Toni in the middle of the park.
Over the course of 10 years at Madrid, it’s hard to think of a single moment in which Kroos has kicked up a fuss, made an issue out of a contract extension or thrown his toys out of the pram at not getting enough playing time.
He’s a true professional, and watching his last game for Real Madrid will surely be a sad affair.
Kroos is set to say goodbye
I think everyone is in the same boat when I say that the entire world of football will miss Toni Kroos and his +90% passing stats on a weekend.
A sneak peak inside the dressing room
Before the players arrive and make everything a mess, here's how the dressing room looks for Los Blancos...
Bellingham reveals his favorite Champions League goal of all time, and it's not Zidane's...
Before you watch the video, have a guess at which goal you think it might be.
JESUS ALVAREZ ORIHUELA / DIARIO AS
Thibaut or not Thiabut?
Yes, that's my worst headline ever and no, I'm not sorry.
Neither was Ancelotti, who didn’t pull any punches when he announced that Thiabut Courtois would be popping on the gloves for the final over Andriy Lunin, who has played the majority of the minutes this season due to an injury that struck the Belgian last summer.
This change hasn’t really caused a debate and I’m not here to stir the pot, but I do think that the Ukrainian deserves a mention for what has been a fantastic season in between the sticks for Los Blancos both domestically and beyond.
Unfortunately, as mentioned, he was not able to travel with the squad due to flu, but he will be present at Wembley to cheer on his teammates.
A reminder of the team news:
Real Madrid team news:
Aurélien Tchouaméni is, along with Alaba, the only major absence for Real Madrid tonight.
The Frenchman suffered a foot injury during the win over Bayern Munich and is even a doubt for the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament.
Another player who is (partly) in the sick room is Andriy Lunin.
Madrid’s first-choice goalkeeper this season is suffering from the flu and did not travel with the rest of the squad, instead arriving this morning, as not to contaminate his teammates ahead of the game.
BVB team news:
Bensebaini and Duranville are out for the Germans as they recover from their respective injuries.
Sébastian Haller is also a doubt for Terzic, although he has travelled and should make the bench.
Florentino Pérez has been one of the most influential figures in Real Madrid history.
The club president does not normally appear on screens or radio without it being absolutely necessary, something which has created an air of mystery about the man at the top of arguably the biggest club in the world.
Luckily for you, I was tasked with finding out everything you need to know about the figure behind Real Madrid’s modern success...
Dortmund pre-game press highlights:
Our clear goal is to lift the trophy.
We've played 60 warm-up games to prepare for this one game and get to our highest level. If we don't just want to watch as they lift their next trophy, but rather give them a real game, then we have a chance. If you break it down to one game, then anything is possible in football.
You can't defend on your own. We have to do it as a team. If we can do that, then we have a chance of winning.
We kept two clean sheets, we beat them in both games. That's a massive success against such a strong attacking side.
You can't really block it out, but you can make everyday life as normal as possible. That's what we want to do in the remaining 24 hours. Anticipation and excitement are normal to a certain extent. If we didn't have belief, then we may as well have stayed in Dortmund...
The eagle-eyed among you may have spotted that Aurélien Tchouaméni is, despite being injured, on the bench for Real Madrid along with David Alaba and Andriy Lunin.
But why? Well, luckily for you, Roddy has the answer...
Here's one for the Madridistas!
It comes as no surprise, really, does it?
Water is wet, the Pope is Catholic and Madrid score late goals.
A look back on last year...
Remember this?
To be honest, I'd be pretty surprised if you'd have forgotten already. But it's never a bad thing to relive classic Champions League goals, and I guess this counts.
Don't forget that you can get all theTV and streaming info you need if you want to watch the German side take on Carlo Ancelotti’s players in the final at Wembley Stadium.
Update!
The Real Madrid squad have just set off from their team hotel and are now on their way to Wembley.
Did you know?
There are a few Real Madrid players who are on the verge of making history tonight, if they end up winning the Champions League.
Modric, Carvajal, Nacho and Kroos are all in line to win what would be their 6th European Cup, a feat only achieved by Paco Gento, who won 6 with Real Madrid during their period of continental dominance during the middle of the past century.
Kroos is slightly tweaking the dials here, as he would have won 5 with Madrid and 1 with Bayern, but who are we to judge?
Real Madrid to wear all-white:
Since they are the away team, there had been some speculation as to whether or not Los Blancos would be in blanco or another colour from this season's kit palette.
However, it's been confirmed now that indeed Real Madrid will wear their traditional home strip for the tie tonight.
Worldwide kick-off times:
Here's the list of kick-off times all around the world.
Where are you following from?
All of the 32 teams who took part in the group stage received a starting fee of €15.64 million with performance-based bonuses paid for results gained in each of the six matchdays - €2.8 million for each match won and €930,000 for a draw.
Here's how the rest of the prize money is divided up between clubs:
Taking part in the group stage: €15.6m ($16.8m)
Group-stage wins: €2.8m ($3m)
Group-stage draws: €930k ($1m)
Round of 16: €9.6m ($10.3m)
Quarter finals: €10.6m per club ($11.4m)
Semi-finals: €12.5m per club ($13.2m)
The final: €15.5m per club ($16.12m)
Winner - €20m ($21.5m)
REAL MADRID XI REVEALED!
Is this a new record for an early starting XI?
It's pretty much as we expected, with no surprises from Carlo.
Associated Press/LaPresse / Associated Press/LaPresse
Flashback: Real Madrid's quarter-final
Madrid were drawn against Manchester City in the quarter-finals this year, a team that had caused them problems over recent seasons.
Tension was high in the days leading up to the first game, which was played at the Bernabéu.
The whistle blew and both teams came flying out of the blocks, with Manchester City taking an early lead after Silva’s sly free-kick from out wide caught Lunin off-guard and slipped past him at the near post.
Madrid’s magic was instantly turned on and despite the pressure piling on, Rodrygo and a Ruben Dias OG somehow flipped the scoreline around in just 2 minutes.
City then took two swings after the break, with a pair of fantastic goals from Foden and Gvardiol giving them the advantage before a stunning Valverde volley made it 3-3 and capped off one of the games of the century.
The return leg was a defensive masterclass from Real Madrid, who set out to frustrate City who huffed and puffed on the edge of the box.
An early goal from Rodrygo meant that they could afford to defend, defend and defend some more, and it took a goal from De Bruyne late on to keep City in the tie.
Extra-time came and went and eventually some Lunin heroics along with a superb Rüdiger penalty sent Madrid into the final four.
INA FASSBENDER / AFP
Flashback: Dortmund's quarter-final
It was in the quarter-finals where the draw stopped being kind to the Black & Yellow.
They were put up against Atlético Madrid, who made life tough for them at the Metropolitano in the Spanish capital, winning 2-1, with Haller getting a late lifeline for Terzic’s side to take home.
Much had been made of Atleti’s simply diabolical away form ahead of this game, and it proved to be the case after kick-off.
The Spanish side went 2-0 down in the first half before an own goal kept the Germans from running away with it.
Ángel Correa levelled things up on the night and put Atleti in the driving seat, but a late collapse from Simeone’s men saw Dortmund score twice within the final 20 minutes, with Fullkrug and Sabitzer sending BVB through.
Who will be the standout player on the biggest night of them all?
The Brazilian duo at the top of Ancelotti's Madrid attack have both had fantastic seasons and have contributed heavily with goals and assists.
Vini Jr even knows what it's like to score in a final, having got the winner against Liverpool back in 2022 in Paris. Will we see the same tonight?
Javier Gandul / Diario AS
Tchouaméni a big miss for Madrid
As mentioned earlier, Madrid are without lynchpin midfielder, Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is out with a foot injury.
Tchouaméni has anchored the base of Ancelotti’s midfield, allowing Kroos the freedom to control the play by his side.
As well as this, Tchouaméni offers tons of support to the centre-backs, who rely on his speed, positioning and awareness to halt opposition attacks before they hit Madrid’s penultimate line of defence.
He will be a huge miss today for Los Blancos; Eduardo Camavinga, his compatriot, has big shoes to fill.
And the answer is...
ABERDEEN
Yes, The Dandies were the last team to beat Real Madrid in a European final, with the win for the Scottish side coming back in the 1983 Cup Winners' Cup final.
For context, 'Every Breath You Take' by The Police would be released a week later.
Quiz time!
Incredibly, Real Madrid are yet to lose a Champions League final: they're eight for eight so far.
And it doesn't stop there:Los Blancos haven't lost a European final since 1983: can you name the team that beat them?
Marco Reus: in the spotlight
After 12 years at the club, it was announced last month that Marco Reus would not be extending his contract with Borussia Dortmund.
The legendary winger rejoined the Bundesliga club from Borussia Mochengladbach back in 2012 and has made over 400 appearances, scoring 168 goals and contributing 128 assists.
While his future is uncertain at this stage, the player has been heavily linked with a move to MLS.
"I'm incredibly grateful for and proud of this special time at my club Borussia Dortmund" Reus said in a statement.
"I have spent more than half of my life at this club and enjoyed every day, even though there have of course been difficult moments too."
Dylan Martinez / REUTERS
The man of the moment...
What a year Jude Bellingham has had. His first at Real Madrid, the Englishman is the team’s top scorer and has been, arguably, their outstanding performer all season.
At just 20 years of age, his teammates respect him as though he had been at the club for a decade and he is already a hit with the notoriously difficult Real Madrid fanbase, where even the biggest stars in the game have been booed.
Tougher times will come for the midfielder who has a long career in the Spanish capital ahead of him, but for now he can bathe in the spring/summer sun of the city and look back fondly on a stellar season.
Bellingham has one more twist in the tale: he has made it to the Champions League final in his first season as a Real Madrid player and not only that, but he is coming up against the very club that saw him depart last summer, adding a huge sense of anticipation for the player, who will also be playing the game in his home country, in the stadium of his national team: Wembley.
Things don’t get much more fairy-tale than this…
Don't think I wasn't going to mention the fans in black & yellow!
Yes, the Germans have got their own party bus as the Madridistas look on longingly from the street corners and pub gardens.
As ever, the weather is superb in England, with rain a near impossible outcome.
Denis Doyle / Getty Images
Who's the ref?
The man with the whistle tonight is Slovenia’s Slavko Vincic, who made his debut in Slovenia’s first division in 2007.
He is now an experienced Champions League referee and has overseen 30 games since his tournament debut in 2016, including eight knockout-stage matches.
Most recently, he refereed Dortmund’s second-leg win over Atlético Madrid in this season’s quarter-finals.
He has refereed the Germans on two occasions (1 win and 1 loss), but today will be the first time he blows the whistle for Real Madrid.
For more on my new favourite Slovenian, get on Will's deep dive on Slavko.
Jesús Álvarez Orihuela / Diario AS
How Real Madrid got here...
Real Madrid’s group stage campaign was spectacular: they won 6 games out of 6 and stormed to the top of the table scoring 16 goals and conceding just 7.
Napoli were their toughest opponents and came second, but neither the Italians, Braga nor Union Berlin could stop Los Blancos as they marched onto the round of 16.
The first knockout round saw Madrid drawn against RB Leipzig, and this is where they wobbled.
The Germans made life hell for Madrid in both games, seeing them concede a plethora of chances both home and away under the press of the team led by Marco Rose.
In the end, the first leg was settled by a Brahim golazo while the return fixture at the Bernabéu ended in a 1-1 draw, with the away side feeling slightly unlucky having not put away any more of their glorious chances.
The Madridistas are out in full force!
Fans of Los Blancos are in party mode ahead of kick-off in the English capital!
INA FASSBENDER / AFP
How Dortmund got here...
Dortmund were slapped bang in the middle of the ‘Group of Death’ in the Champions League this year, being placed alongside PSG, AC Milan and Newcastle United.
All four teams took hits at each other and qualification to the next round went down to the final day, with BVB eventually topping the group on 11 points, 3 ahead of both PSG and Milan, who were tied on 8.
The French side squeezed through on goal difference but it was the Germans who took the momentum into the next round.
The draw for the Round of 16 was a ‘pleasant’ one for Dortmund who, on paper, got one of the easier ties.
They came up against PSV who they swept aside 3-1 on aggregate over two games, with the goals coming from Malen, Sancho and Reus, to seal their ticket to the quarter-finals.
Here’s all the info if you’re interested in putting the game on your screen as well as keeping up to date with the live feed.
Real Madrid predicted XI:
GK: Courtois
DEF: Carvajal - Rüdiger - Nacho - Mendy
MID: Valverde - Camavinga - Kroos - Bellingham
ATT: Rodrygo - Vini Jr
BVB predicted XI:
GK: Kobel
DEF: Maatsen - Schlotterbeck - Hummels - Ryerson
MID: Sabitzer - Can - Adeyemi - Brandt - Sancho
ATT: Fullkrug
Real Madrid team news:
Aurélien Tchouaméni is, along with Alaba, the only major absence for Real Madrid tonight.
The Frenchman suffered a foot injury during the win over Bayern Munich and is even a doubt for the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament.
Another player who is (partly) in the sick room is Andriy Lunin.
Madrid’s first-choice goalkeeper this season is suffering from the flu and did not travel with the rest of the squad, instead arriving this morning, as not to contaminate his teammates ahead of the game.
Dortmund team news:
Bensebaini and Duranville are out for the Germans as they recover from their respective injuries.
Sébastian Haller is also a doubt for Terzic, although he has travelled and should make the bench.
The game between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid will kick-off at 3 p.m. ET/ noon PT.
Welcome to the UCL final!
Well, well, well, here we are…
Hello and welcome to the AS USA live coverage of the Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.
It’s Joe here on duty to guide you through the action as it happens at London’s Wembley stadium!
Stay tuned for all the pre-game buildup, as well as live textcoverage of the game itself and post-match reaction.