The Real McCoy

There's something special about Real Madrid & the UEFA Champions League. Something in their DNA. Never has a club been so tied to a competition like this one. It's almost in their destiny almost. That is the task facing Borussia Dortmund in tonight's final; it's fair to say they will be going against the weight of history.

Since the 1950s; Real's love story with the competition began with the likes of Alfredo di Stefano; and it has continued some 70 years later. Time & time again; they have come back to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Even this season; they managed to overcome the world's best team Manchester City with a dogged defensive performance in the quarter-finals; before prevailing on penalties. They then left it late again in the semi-finals against Bayern Munich; before somehow finding a way to win.

It must be said Dortmund are a somewhat surprise package. Many illustrious teams have fallen by the wayside; the likes of City, Paris-Saint Germain, Bayern & Barcelona were all heavily favored in the competition. With an unseemly blend of veteran cast-offs such as Mats Hummels; Emre Can & Jadon Sancho; they have relied on teamwork; an organized defence and counter-attacks to make their way through. They are of course the best-supported team in the world; with their famous Yellow Wall behind them.