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On June 1, Borussia Dortmund go toe-to-toe with European goliaths Real Madrid in the Champions League final at Wembley.
It is no secret that Dortmund come into this tie as the underdogs, with the current Champions League winner odds heavily favouring Los Blancos to be victorious in this affair.
However, this is not a foreign position for BVB to be in, having been the favourites to crash out of the tournament in the quarter-final against Atletico Madrid and also in the semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Tactics
Tactically, Dortmund coach Edin Terzic has got it spot on thus far, but will once again need to develop a cunning plan to stop the tournament’s most successful club from collecting their 15th title.
Similarly to the semi-final affairs, Terzic’s side will not look to dominate possession and take the game to Carlo Ancelotti’s men. It is more likely that they will sit in a compact shape, defend aggressively, and counterattack through quick transitions.
However, it is imperative that Real Madrid’s attacks are disrupted from the source, and therefore, they must develop a plan to stop German maestro Toni Kroos, who has been instrumental for his side this season, dictating play from the heart of midfield.
To achieve this, it is likely that Dortmund’s midfield trio of Julian Brandt, Emre Can, and Marcel Sabitzer will play compactly and aggressively, setting traps for the opposition to play into midfield and win the ball back quickly.
Another puzzle that they will need to solve on the night is dealing with the attacking trio of Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo, who between them have scored 63 goals this season.
To halt this attacking threat, it will take full concentration to stay in a defensive shape, with every man putting in a shift, not allowing players of such class the time and space to get their heads up.
But as important as tactics are in this game, the most important aspect of Dortmund’s performance will have to be the fight and desire that they show on the night, as without that, they are unlikely to stand a chance at overcoming the football odds.
Due to the quality that they face, it is inevitable that they will need to dig deep as a unit to survive and will need each individual to remain concentrated from start to finish.
Key Players
German forward, Niclas Fullkrug will be central to the game plan, as his hold-up play and ability to secure possession and link up with teammates will be vital to helping relieve the pressure on the backline.
Jadon Sancho and Karim Adeyemi’s roles will also be crucial both defensively and offensively in the final, with them needing to double up in the fullback areas defensively while also playing a key role in possession when transitioning into the final third.
In the heart of defence, Mats Hummels and Nico Schlotterbeck will need to muster up another top-class defensive display, making last-ditch challenges and clearances and getting on the end of any balls launched into the box.
Swiss goalkeeper, Gregor Kobel has been in phenomenal form for Dortmund this season, making key saves, and will once again be called upon by his side in this match, as it is unlikely that Madrid will end the game without a couple of good chances, which he will need to be equal to if Dortmund are to be successful on the night.
Furtherly, creative outlet Brandt will be conducive to how his side can move up the pitch, as his technical ability and calmness in possession to pick the right pass will be crucial to how efficient Dortmund are in transitions.