Elite-level soccer action reaches its peak this weekend when the UEFA Champions League trophy, the most cherished prize in domestic football, is up for grabs.
Real Madrid, a European powerhouse, will make their 18th appearance in a UEFA tournament final. However, the real intrigue at top-rated sportsbooks lies with their challengers, Borussia Dortmund, who have defied the odds as heavy underdogs throughout the competition, thriving in this often overlooked position.
Continue reading for the top soccer betting picks for the highly anticipated UEFA Champions League Final between Los Blancos and die Schwarzgelben.
Top Soccer Pick: Both Teams to Score (-130) [1.3u wager returns 1u of profit] at Everygame (visit our Everygame Review)
UEFA Champions League Final Information
- When: Saturday, June 01, 03:00 PM ET
- Where: Wembley Stadium, London, England
- Win/Loss Record (Last 5 UCL): Dortmund W/W/W/L/W – Madrid W/D/D/D/D
Borussia Dortmund vs. Real Madrid
Borussia Dortmund vs. Real Madrid Stats, Odds & Prediction
- Real Madrid are unbeaten in 12 consecutive UCL games.
- BVB are unbeaten in 11 of their previous 12 UCL encounters.
- BVB have won 3 consecutive UCL fixtures.
- Real Madrid have avoided being defeated in 22 of their last 24 UCL meetings.
- Real Madrid have scored at least 1 goals in 12 straight UCL games.
- BVB have scored one or more goals in 10 consecutive UCL clashes.
- Real Madrid have drawn 4 of their 5 most recent UCL games in 90 minutes.
- BVB managed 6 clean sheets from their 12 UCL fixtures this season.
- Both teams have scored in Real Madrid’s 5 most recent UCL games.
- Real Madrid have netted 8 goals combined in their 4 most recent UCL games alone.
An Unlikely Underdog
In contrast to their fellow UCL finalists, Borussia Dortmund isn’t a club enriched with success on the European stage. While they’ve undoubtedly been a staple in the UEFA competitions for decades, they haven’t reached a Champions League final since 2013 and haven’t won this coveted trophy since 1997.
To further illustrate why the Germans hold the underdog position this weekend, they’ve lost their two most recent clashes with Los Blancos and haven’t been able to win a game against this club in five consecutive meetings.
Champions League Record Holders
With a record-topping 14 UEFA Champions League victories displayed in the trophy cabinet at the Bernabeu, there isn’t a more intimidating club to meet in a UCL final than Real Madrid. The Spanish giants are more familiar with this competition than any other team in Europe, and they most recently lifted the title back in 2022.
In addition, Los Blancos have claimed five Champions League trophies since 2014, and with 14 overall, they’re 50% richer in terms of UCL success than the next best, AC Milan, who’ve claimed seven titles to date.
Dortmund: A Defensive Unit
The stories of how BVB and Real reached this year’s UCL final are polar opposites.
On the one hand, you have the German squad led by Edin Terzic, a manager who’s relied on a strong backline and defensive midfielders to prevent the opposition from scoring. In contrast, the Madrid unit, led by Carlo Ancelotti, has been a formidable squad when it comes to finding the net.
In reaching the final, BVB kept back-to-back clean sheets against PSG, registering 1-0 victories in both the home and away legs. Oppositely, Real Madrid was intertwined in a four and three-goal thriller with Munich, thus claiming their UCL final ticket with a 4-3 aggregate score.
Real Madrid: An Elite Final Third
Los Blancos have seen their star youngster, Jude Bellingham, slowly evolve from an offensive midfielder into a complete striker. Alongside the worldly talents of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, there isn’t a more awe-inspiring attacking group in Europe.
With that said, Madrid’s elite final third will be faced with a BVB squad that’s thrived against an all-out attacking style. Therefore, it wouldn’t be surprising to see this year’s final buck the historical trend of low-scoring UCL finals, as both teams find suitable paths to getting on the score sheet.
Champions League Final Betting Odds & Predictions
Unsurprisingly, the UEFA Champions League betting odds have placed Real Madrid as a heavy betting favorite on the moneyline, as BVB returns to an all-too-familiar position as a gameday underdog.
Given the nature of a UCL final, which involves the biggest prize in European soccer, it is risky to look toward the outright markets. Historical records, club success and trends can often go out the window during such pressure-filled fixtures, so it’s best to seek out alternative betting markets in an attempt to secure bankroll profit with lesser risk.
In this scenario, it’s difficult to overlook the Both Teams to Score the market. Real Madrid doesn’t employ a defensive style of football. While BVB certainly does, they can be broken out of their shell in this regard, as evidenced by the Atletico Madrid UCL quarter-final fixtures that ended with nine goals in total.
The Pick
I expect Saturday’s final to deliver a similar outcome, even if it takes a full 45 minutes for team tactics to adjust. Eventually, Los Blancos' pressure will cause BVB to open up, and when that happens, either side will be live for a goal.
The 14-time champions' attacking prowess will ultimately be the decisive factor as they win by a one-goal margin, and Jude Bellingham will once again have his say. Not before, however, Dortmund sends a level of panic through the Los Blancos supporting end and gives themselves a fighting chance with one goal.
Score prediction: Borussia Dortmund 1 – Real Madrid 2
Soccer Pick: Both Teams to Score (-130) [1.3u wager returns 1u of profit] at Everygame
Soccer Pick: Jude Bellingham Anytime Goal Scorer (+150) [1u wager returns 1.5u of profit] at Everygame
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
Calculators
