Champions League final: How Real Madrid win at Wembley

This year’s Champions League final is on the horizon, where Real Madrid will take on Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on June 1.

The Champions League winner odds favour Los Blancos to take home their 15th title in the club’s history, and here we take a closer look at how Carlo Ancelotti’s men can get the job done on the night.

Tactics

Coming into the match as the favourites, Real Madrid will be likely to dominate possession, therefore, will be forced to break down what is going to be a compact and aggressive Dortmund defensive unit.

In possession, Madrid will have to move the ball quickly and will look to condense the midfield with bodies to control and dictate the tempo of the game.

Usually, when holding possession higher up the pitch, Madrid will setup with both fullbacks high and wide, which is done to spread the opposition’s defence as wide as possible to play through the central areas of the pitch.

As Dortmund will likely defend deep in the game, looking to double up in wide areas and starve Madrid of passing options between the midfield lines, the tempo at which Madrid moves the ball will be key here.

The fluid nature of the rotations and interchanges within the Madrid midfield will be another factor, as they will try and use constant movement within the midfield lines to pull Dortmund midfielders out of position, opening the gaps between the lines.

On the defensive front, Ancelotti’s side’s counter-pressing will need to be sharp to ensure that Madrid contain the opposition within their own half and to nullify the threat of Karim Adeyemi’s blistering pace on the counterattack.

This game will likely be won and lost for Los Blancos depending on how well they deal with Dortmund’s transitions and how decisive and clinical they can be once venturing into the final third amongst what is going to be a condensed penalty area.

Key Players

Thus, Brazilian duo Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo will have a large role to play in this match, making dangerous runs, pulling defenders out of position, and using their tricky feet to make space in condensed areas. These two youngsters could prove to be the difference between the two sides on the night.

German centre-back, Antonio Rudiger, has been the cornerstone of the La Liga champions’ incredible defensive record this season and will once again be integral to his side in the final. The 31-year-old’s physical and aggressive style will be needed to interrupt Niklas Fullkrug, who will look to win aerial duels and bring his teammates into play, and will need to be at his best to eliminate this threat.

Another player who may prove essential is legendary midfielder Toni Kroos, who has been the heartbeat of the side all season. As Madrid will likely spend the bulk of the game in possession, the soon-to-be-retiring Kroos’ ability to dictate and control the tempo will be vital for his side to gain their rhythm on the ball.

Facing his former side in the final, it almost seems inevitable that Jude Bellingham will have some sort of impact on this game one way or another. With 35 goal contributions in 40 games this season, the young English superstar will be a constant threat between the lines, and it would not be a shock if he popped up with a decisive moment in this one.

A vital cog in the Real Madrid machine, Federico Valverde, will once again be so vital for his side in this match, as the intensity that he so often displays in his play, combined with wonderfully gifted technical ability, makes the Uruguayan international key both in and out of possession.

Being the football bets favourites to win the Champions League final, the pressure will be on Ancelotti’s men to dispatch of their opposition. If they are able to get Toni Kroos on the ball, dictate the pace of the game, and keep Dortmund’s transitions at arm’s length, they should have enough to once again lift the Champions League trophy.

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