Favourites Real Madrid chasing 15th triumph

Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final is an intriguing clash between 14-time champions Real Madrid, led by five-time winning coach Carlo Ancelotti, and surprise finalists Borussia Dortmund, who are seeking just their second title.

Wembley Stadium is set for this epic encounter, which will serve as the last club match for Toni Kroos and the last appearance of Marco Reus in the black and yellow of Dortmund.

For the first time, Madrid are unbeaten on their way to this final, and scored 26 goals, conceding 15. Dortmund lost twice on the way to this final, scoring 17 goals and conceding nine.

Historically, the Champions League final has rarely been a contest of equals, with clear favorites and underdogs. In the last five finals, the favorites have won four times, indicating a higher probability of Real Madrid emerging victorious.

Stay with PREMIUM TIMES for the Live Updates of the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.

Kickoff is at 8 pm.

Courtois replaces Lunin in Madrid’s starting 11
Thibaut Courtois is the only surprise in Carlo Ancelotti’s starting 11 for the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday.In defence are Antonio Rüdiger, Nacho, Dani Carvajal, and Ferland Mendy.

In midfield are the departing Toni Kroos, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, and Jude Bellingham. Two Brazilians,, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, are attacking in double tandem.

The centre referee is 44-year-old Slovenian Slavko Vinčić. He was the referee for the 2022 UEFA Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers, which Eintracht Frankfurt won on penalties.

This season, he has recently taken charge of Dortmund’s second-leg win over Atlético Madrid in this season’s quarterfinals.

Borussia Dortmund start with Gregor Kobel in goal; Julian Ryerson, Mats Hummels, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Ian Maatsen start as the back four. In midfield are Marcel Sabitzer, Emre Can, Jadon Sancho, Julian Brandt, and Karim Adeyemi. Leading the line is their leading goal scorer, Niclas Füllkrug, who has three goals this season.

Dortmund kick off

Wow!!! And there is an immediate pause to action as a streaker comes on the pitch to take selfies with Bellingham.

Wow!!! And there is an immediate pause to action as a streaker comes on the pitch to take selfies with Bellingham.

There were three pitch invaders and we are underway again

First free kick to Real Madrid for a foul on Bellingham

5 mins: First corner kick to Dortmund

9 mins: Dortmund are not fazed and are knocking the ball around confidently

10 mins: Valverde goes down and the referee waves play on

12 mins: First shooting chance for Valverde and he blazes over the bar

13 mins; Sancho felled by Camavinga as he strode into the Madrid half. The referee tells everyone to cool down.

16 mins: Both sides exchange chances. Brandt fails to hit the target, and a minute later, Vinicius blasts over from inside the Dortmund box.

Vinicius has been variously repelled by both Hummels, and Ryerson down the Madrid left flank

21 mins: What a chance!!! Adeyemi beats the offside and though he went round Courtois, Carvajal got back to block for a a corner, which the Belgian goalkeeper needs two attempts to gather

23 mins: Fullkrug his the post. How are Dortmund not ahead at Wembley?

Fullkrug would have been marginally offside if that had gone in. Dortmund winning all the one-on-one battles all across the pitch.

27 mins: What a tackle from Schlotterbeck, and then Dortmund go to the other end, and it takes a save from Courtois to keep Dortmund out. Who is the underdog now?

34 mins: Vinicius is shown the first yellow card for a diving challenge on Dortmund goalkeeper. Not too much in that

41 mins: Another save from Courtois from a Sabitzer drive

Dortmund have been the better team and generated the better goal scoring chances

Another ‘stupid’ yellow card for a Dortmund player; this time Sabitzer, for demonstrating with the assistant referee

45 (+4) mins: Two corners in quick succession ensure Dortmund end the half on the offensive and Carlo Ancelotti has a lot to talk about during the halftime interval

Dortmund with the upper hand in the first half.. can they keep the momentum in the second half

Real Madrid gets the second half underway

Free kick for Real Madrid just at the edge of the Dortmund box as Vinicus is brought down

Real Madrid with 351 completed passes compared to Dortmund’s 198

Ancelloti will be turning 65 this month.. he would be glad to have the Champions League trophy as an early birthday gift

Jurgen Klopp at Wembley to watch his old team Borussia Dortmund

Ten minutes into the second half

Dortmund 0-0 Real Madrid

Another great chance for Dortmund but the close range header was saved by Thibaut Courtois

Rodrygo with a good run on the right flank that earns Real Madrid a corner kick

Twenty minutes gone in the second half.. still a barren affair at Wembley between Dortmund and Real Madrid

Substitution: Marco Reus is brought in for Kareem Adeyemi

Goal!!! Real Madrid break the deadlock

Daniel Carvajal heads Real Madrid closer to their 15th Champions League title

CLOSE!! Jude Bellingham comes close to doubling the lead for Real Madrid but his effort blocked away for a corner kick

Free kick for Real Madrid in a promising position.. Matt Hummels booked for a foul on Camavinga

Toni Kroos with a decent free kick on target but the Dortmund keeper makes a smart save

Camavinga with a decent attempt for Real Madrid as Dortmund make double substitutions

Goal!!! Vinicius doubles the lead for Real Madrid

After the initial fireworks by Dortmund… Real Madrid have shown why they are the masters with two goals in nine minutes

Jude Bellingham is taken off and Kroos also makes way for Luka Modric

Goal disallowed as the Germans thought they have gotten a lifeline in this final clash

88 minutes… Dortmund 0-2 Real Madrid

Substitution: Militao in for Rodrygo

Five minutes added time as Real Madrid countdown to their 15th Champions League title

Substitution: goal scorer Vinicius out for Lucas Vacuez

Full Time: Dortmund 0-2 Real Madrid

Los Blancos are champions again for the 15th time!!!!!!!!!!