Champions League final: Why a win for Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund would defy the odds

Real Madrid is going for a record-extending 15th European Cup.

Borussia Dortmund is aiming to pull off one of soccer’s biggest upsets in recent memory.

Whoever wins the Champions League final on Saturday will be defying the odds in their own way.

Madrid’s domination of European club soccer’s biggest prize confounds belief. Its record of 14 titles is twice as many as its closest rival AC Milan.

“The club has created its history in this competition,” coach Carlo Ancelotti says.

Madrid’s record in the Champions League era is even more impressive: Eight wins since the tournament was rebranded in 1992; three in a row from 2016-18 and five in the last 10 years. In the same period, Madrid has won La Liga only four times.

Madrid has also been a semifinalist in 12 of the last 14 seasons.

“It’s something special for the club, for all the madridistas (fans) and for us, who are also madridistas. It’s a competition where we’re more focused,” says Ancelotti, who can win a record-extending fifth Champions League as a coach.