Just now: Real Madrid wins the UEFA Champions League for a RECORD Seven times after convincely beating Borussia Dortmund today
Champions League final live updates: Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund score, highlights
Jesse Yomtov
USA TODAY
Nearly a year after the first qualifying matches of the tournament, the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League comes to an end Saturday with Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund facing off in the final at London’s Wembley Stadium.
14-time champion Real Madrid already has twice as many European titles as any other club and are seeking a sixth championship in the past 11 years. Dortmund’s lone Champions League title came in 1997 and the German club is making its first appearance in the final since 2013, when it lost to rival Bayern Munich at Wembley.
Follow along for updates from Saturday’s match in London:
How to watch Champions League final in USA
Saturday’s match will air at 3 p.m. ET on CBS and can be streamed on Paramount+ or Fubo.
Goal! Vinicius Jr. seals it for Madrid in 83rd minute
With Dortmund looking tired, Vinicius Junior put a left-footed shot past Gregor Kobel in the 83rd minute to extend Real Madrid’s lead to 2-0, all but clinching the club’s 15th European championship.
Goal! Dani Carvajal makes it 1-0 Real Madrid
Defender Dani Carvajal scored a header off a corner kick in the 74th minute, putting Real Madrid ahead 1-0 with less than a quarter-hour left to play.
Carvajal turned Toni Kroos’ corner across the face of goal and past Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, the Spanish international an unlikely goal-scorer as Madrid can now taste its 15th European championship.
Playing his 11th season with Real Madrid, the 32-year-old Carvajal scored for just the second time in more than 80 European appearances.
Madrid vs. Dortmund still scoreless in 55th minute
The second half is underway at Wembley Stadium with Borussia Dortmund trying to keep up the pressure after a dominant performance in the first 45 minutes.
Seeking its 15th European championship, Real Madrid looked vulnerable on the counterattack and required two big saves from Thibaut Courtois.
Halftime: Real Madrid 0, Borussia Dortmund 0
After dominating the first 45 minutes, Dortmund must be unhappy to the hear the halftime whistle. The Germans were the much better team in the first half, managing eight shots (three on goal) against the 14-time champions. They should probably be on top, but squandered a couple of big opportunities before the intermission.
Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has come through to keep Dortmund out, but his team needs to clean things up at the back in the second half.
27′: Borussia Dortmund comes close twice
Minutes after Karim Adeyemi couldn’t navigate around Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in a 1-on-1, Dortmund’s Niclas Füllkrug hit the post, though replays showed that he likely would have been called offside had he scored.
We’re still scoreless in the 27th minute.
Champions League final underway in London
The two sides have split possession in the first 15 minutes, with Real Madrid managing two shots to Dortmund’s one. Vinícius Júnior had a decent chance in the 15th minute for Real Madrid, but skied his attempt from inside the penalty area.
Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund lineups
Here’s how Real Madrid is lining up on Saturday:
Borussia Dortmund’s starting XI:
Where is the Champions League final in 2024?
London’s Wembley Stadium is hosting the 2024 UEFA Champions League final on Saturday.
It’s the third final to be played at the new Wembley, with Barcelona defeating Manchester United in 2011 and Bayern Munich beating Dortmund in 2013’s all-German affair.
Thibaut Courtois back in goal in Real Madrid lineup
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti ended his side’s goalkeeper debate on Friday by announcing that Thibaut Courtois will start over Andriy Lunin in Saturday’s Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
Widely considered one of the best keepers in the world, Courtois has started five games since returning from a long lay-off after suffering a torn ACL in August.
His return had left the Italian coach with a tricky decision as stand-in Lunin shone during Real’s La Liga title campaign and was the hero when they beat Manchester City on penalties to reach the Champions League semifinals.
– Reuters
Clubs with most Champions League titles
Real Madrid has won the tournament 14 times, the most of any club.
Here’s a look at all the clubs to have won the competition on multiple occasions:
Real Madrid: 14 times
AC Milan: 7
Bayern Munich: 6
Liverpool: 6
Barcelona: 5
Ajax: 4
Inter Milan: 3
Manchester United: 3
Juventus: 2
Benfica: 2
Chelsea: 2
Nottingham Forest: 2
Porto: 2
Marco Reus playing final match for Borussia Dortmund
Long considered one of the most talented players of his generation, Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus has failed to taste major success in an injury-plagued career but the German is now ready to leave the club with the Champions League trophy.
The 34-year-old attacking midfielder is departing Dortmund after 12 years at the club and hopes to do so on a high in his last match for them by beating mighty Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
“Borussia Dortmund means everything for me,” Reus said this week. “When you are 12 years at a club then it just has to mean everything.”
– Reuters
Champions League final preview: Dortmund must be ‘brave’ to win
Borussia Dortmund have not traveled so far in this season’s Champions League to be mere witnesses to Real Madrid lifting the trophy for a record-extending 15th time, coach Edin Terzic vowed on Friday on the eve of the Wembley showdown.
“You don’t play a final, you win a final and that is our clear goal,” said Terzic, who will be up against his role model Carlos Ancelotti.
Dortmund finished a distant fifth in the Bundesliga this season and few would have given them much hope of reaching their first Champions League final since 2013 when Wembley also hosted their defeat against favorites Bayern Munich.
“(Real) have a role as the favorites, but we weren’t favorites against Atletico or Paris either,” Terzic said.
“If we are brave and not here to see Madrid win their next trophy, then we’re going to have a chance.”
– Reuters
Jadon Sancho shines for Dortmund after Manchester United falling out
Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho said it feels surreal to be playing in the Champions League final at Wembley on Saturday after struggling for game time at Manchester United.
The 24-year-old joined United from Dortmund for 85 million euros ($92 million) in August 2021 but failed to hold down a regular spot and returned to Germany on loan in January after becoming embroiled in a row with manager Erik ten Hag.
“To be fair, it felt surreal. Again, it still hasn’t hit me,” he told CNN in an interview published on Thursday.
“It’s kind of crazy, you know, I don’t think anyone would have expected this – me being in the Champions League final, especially where I came from? I’m just happy.”
– Reuters
List of Champions League winners
2022-23: Manchester City
2021-22: Real Madrid
2020-21: Chelsea
2019-20: Bayern Munich
2018-19: Liverpool
2017-18: Real Madrid
2016-17: Real Madrid
2015-16: Real Madrid
2014-15: Barcelona
2013-14: Real Madrid
2012-13: Bayern Munich
2011-12: Chelsea
2010-11: Barcelona
2009-10: Inter Milan
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