UEFA Champions League Final

Real Madrid face Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League Final. Madrid look for their 15th UCL title, while Dortumnd seek their first.

Group Stage

Madrid is the favorite going into the game, elevated by their recent La Liga title win. Dortmund, on the other hand, is fifth in the Bundesliga. Given this average league form, Dortmund has exceeded expectations to make it to their third UCL Final. 

Madrid excelled in the group stages, winning all their group games, while scoring a hefty 16 goals.

Dortmund had a more modest group stage, finishing first with 11 points, only scoring seven goals.

Their defense was stout, only conceding four goals, allowing to top a very talented group.

Knockout Stage

In the knockout stages, both teams clawed their way to final.

Madrid beat RB Leipzig 2-1 on aggregate in a tight series in which they underperformed based on their talent. Then they beat reigning champions Manchester City 4-3 in a penalty shootout after tying 4-4 on aggregate, where they made several mini-comebacks to stay in the series. In that shootout, Lunin was the star. He remained poised, saving two penalties against Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovačić, giving Madrid their ticket to the semi-finals. 

There, Joselu became the hero after he scored twice in three minutes during the second leg to give Madrid a 4-3 victory on aggregate and a spot in the UCL Final. 

Dortmund beat PSV 3-1 in round of 16, although, the scoreline flattered them, as PSV hounded Dortmund in the second half of the second leg. PSV were unlucky not to score, as Dortmund scored late to seal their ticket to quarter-finals.

In the quarter-finals, they faced a tough Atlético Madrid side, and beat 5-4 them on aggregate, after going down 2-1 in the first leg. There it was Austrian midfielder Marcel Sabitzer who shone the brightest. In the 74th of minute of the second leg, he smashed a loose ball from the edge of the box, scoring to give his side that 5-4 lead, and a spot in the semi-finals of the UCL.

In the semi’s against PSG, they defended very well, limiting Kylian Mbappé’s, and winning 2-0 on aggregate.

Thank you for tuning to our preview of the UEFA Champions League Final.

Keep up with The Game Haus further coverage on the Champions League throughout the week.

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