UCL: How have Borussia Dortmund fared in previous Champions League deciders?

Borussia Dortmund face Real Madrid in their third Champions League final (Imago)

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Borussia Dortmund face Real Madrid as underdogs in their third Champions League final (Imago)

UCL: How have Borussia Dortmund fared in previous Champions League deciders?

Seye Omidiora 14:21 - 29.05.2024

Edin Terzic’s men face Real Madrid in Saturday’s final at Wembley, but how have BVB played in their two preceding deciders in Europe’s premier club competition?

Against all the odds, Borussia Dortmund made it into the 2024 Champions League final, where they battle Real Madrid

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Edin Terzic’s men outdid PSV in a favourable first knockout round draw, got the better of Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid in the last eight and knocked out Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals to advance to the club's first appearance in the competition's decider since 2013. 

They head into Saturday’s final against the 14-time European champions as rank outsiders, even if they hope the reduced pressure carries them through a daunting encounter with Carlo Ancelotti’s men. 

Facing Los Blancos will be BVB’s third Champions League final appearance, and Pulse Sports recollects the German side’s appearances in 1997 and 2013. 

Borussia Dortmund vs Juventus (1997)

Much has changed since the mid-to-late 1990s, but Dortmund went into their 1997 final against Juventus having claimed two Bundesliga titles in three years — including back-to-back triumphs in 1995 and 1996. 

Ottmar Hitzfeld’s BVB eliminated Auxerre and Manchester United en route to facing the Old Lady at the Olympiastadion in Munich, and they stunned the defending champions in their home final, reigning supreme at Bayern Munich’s old ground.

UCL Final
Dortmund faced Juventus in the 1997 Champions League final (Bundesliga)

A Karl-Heinz Riedle brace and Larks Ricken strike meant Alessandro Del Piero's 65th-minute goal to halve the deficit was ultimately inconsequential. 

Dortmund’s scorers in the final ended that Champions League campaign with four goals, one behind that year’s top scorer — Atletico Madrid's Milinko Pantic. 

Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich (2013)

Dortmund returned to the Champions League final 16 years after their first against Juventus, facing Bayern at Wembley as underdogs. 

Having been Bundesliga runners-up by a significant margin, and suffering elimination to the Bavarians in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals, BVB went into the 2013 final seeking triumph over the 2012 runners-up. 

However, that ambition was not realised as Arjen Robben netted an 89th-minute winner when Jurgen Klopp's side thought they had forced extra time after Ilkay Gundogan had pegged the favourites back following Mario Mandzukic's goal on the hour.  

UCL Final
Arjen Robben scored the winner in Bayern Munich's win over Borussia Dortmund in the 2013 Champions League final (Bundesliga)

Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid (2024)

Dortmund go into the 2024 final on Saturday, keen to upset the 14-time winners and claim a second Champions League crown. 

Los Blancos have not lost a decider in the competition’s rebranded format, with their last European Cup loss coming in the 1981 decider against Liverpool.