By Emre Asikci
ISTANBUL (AA) – Real Madrid are eager to add one more Champions League trophy to their incredible cabinet, while Borussia Dortmund aim to lift the title for the first time in 27 years.
With a seating capacity of around 90,000, London's historic Wembley Stadium will host the 8th UEFA Champions League final at 2000GMT, the third in the UCL era following the 2011 and 2013 finals.
Slavko Vincic from Slovenia will referee the clash.
- Road to Wembley
Real Madrid bagged all six games in Group C, which included Napoli, Braga, and Union Berlin. The Spanish powerhouse, respectively, edged past RB Leipzig, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich en route to advancing to the final stage.
Borussia Dortmund atop the Group F -- Group of Death -- with 11 points ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, and Newcastle United.
The BVB then eliminated PSV, Atletico Madrid, and the Parisians again to reach the final.
Dortmund were the first to confirm their ticket to the final with a 2-0 aggregate win against Paris Saint-Germain.
The German club will play against 14-time champions Real Madrid, who secured their ticket to London with a dramatic 4-3 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich.
- Real Madrid undisputed king of UCL history with 14 titles
Real Madrid currently holds the UEFA Champions League as the Los Blancos have lifted the UCL trophy (or European Cup, as it was known before 1992) a record 14 times.
In the 2022 final against Liverpool, a goal from Vinicius Jr. in the 59th minute proved to be the winner as Real grabbed their 14th UCL trophy.
Borussia Dortmund are chasing their first title since 1997, as they qualified for the final again in 2013, but lost to Bayern Munich in an all-German showdown.
Italian giants AC Milan are the next best-performing club, having won seven UCL titles to their names, followed by Liverpool and Bayern Munich with six titles each.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, a name synonymous with success in the football world, is on the verge of winning another UCL title.
The 64-year-old Italian lifted the Champions League trophy with Madrid in 2022 and 2014, and also twice with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007.
Ancelotti told UEFA.tv that Borussia Dortmund, like Real Madrid, deserves to be in the final, saying, "They are a solid, compact team with some brilliant individuals."
"We have to enjoy this time, this amazing game, the biggest of the year and the most beautiful to be involved in," he said.
Dortmund coach Edin Terzic has a domestic trophy collection with the German club, including two Bundesliga titles, two German Cup trophies, and one German Super Cup, but he wants to add a major European trophy to his collection.
Terzic believes Borussia Dortmund can break Real Madrid's winning streak when they meet in London.
"Real Madrid is a formidable team, but we've earned our place in this final. Anything is possible in one game, and we are capable of beating any opposition," he told UEFA.com.
The 41-year-old German stated that they would not be favorites and that it will be extremely difficult, adding, "But it's just one match and, throughout one game, anything is possible. We've proven that already."
- Kane, Mbappe top charts
With eight goals in 12 games, Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane and Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe are the Champions League's top scorers this season.
Jude Bellingham has four goals in 10 matches this season, the third-most goal contributions behind Vinicius Junior and Joselu, who each netted five goals in Real's 24 UCL goals.
Borussia Dortmund netted 17 goals this season, with striker Niclas Fullkrug netting three goals, and will be a fundamental weapon in The Black and Yellow squad.
- Who will win, Arda Guler or Salih Ozcan?
On the other end of the spectrum, Real Madrid youngster Arda Guler and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Salih Ozcan are both aiming to contribute significantly to their respective teams' success. If successful, they would become the first Turkish footballers to win this prestigious competition.
Türkiye's four finalists to date all ended up with runners-up medals: Yildiray Basturk (Bayer Leverkusen in 2002), Hamit Altintop (Bayern Munich in 2010), Nuri Sahin (Dortmund in 2013) and Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan in 2023).
In addition, the Champions League winner will book a ticket to play against the winners of the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League in the 2024 UEFA Super Cup in Warsaw, Poland.