Champions League final picks, predictions as Real Madrid face Dortmund: Jude Bellingham, Vini Jr. win it all

Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid compete for the title in Wembley Stadium Saturday.

Real Madrid are favorites to win a record 15th European title in London and head to the British capital after an unbeaten season in the Champions League. Their top-notch attack took center stage throughout the campaign – Jude Bellingham emerged as the star of the tournament with three goals and four assists, while each of the Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Joselu have five goals.

However, Dortmund should not be underestimated after a Cinderella races to the final. They are seeking redemption 11 years after losing the Wembley final to Bayern Munich and have overcome a number of major obstacles along the way. They led a group that included Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Newcastle United, later meeting PSG again in the semi-finals and eliminating the French champions. Dortmund reach the final with a strong defensive record, as goalkeeper Gregor Kobel leads the Champions League with six clean sheets, but also some offensive firepower in Marcel Sabitzer, who is in charge of the assists chart. with five.

Here’s what you need to know before the big game, including expert picks from the CBS Sports team.

Champions League final schedule on TV

All times US/East

Champions League semi-final picks

Borussia Dortmund x Real Madrid

A showdown to watch – Vinicius Junior x Julian Ryerson and Karim Adeyemi: Borussia Dortmund’s right flank could be forgiven for skipping the tape of Real Madrid’s semi-final victory over Bayern Munich when it comes time to prepare for their next opponent. No one really needs to be shown how ruthlessly effective Vinícius it could be when he smells weak prey. Real Madrid’s number 7 has been in devastating form in recent months, saving his most decisive contributions for the most important games, with assists and goals in the triumphs over City of Manchester and Bavaria. Dortmund did a good job of slowing, but not stopping, the advance of Paris Saint-Germain’s attackers in the semi-finals, but they will be tested once again on Saturday night. — James Bengé

More likely to score a goal – Jude Bellingham: It seems written that the former Dortmund player will come back to haunt his former employers. While Vini Jr. would be another good shout for this, the England international scoring a goal to seal Real’s latest UCL title and throwing down the challenge to Kylian Mbappe at the same time seems the most likely scenario. Against Los Blancos’ firepower, it’s hard to see Dortmund’s solid defense holding out for the entire 90 minutes. -Jonathan Johnson

Choice of the Best of the Match – Jude Bellingham: I’m going to agree with Jonathan here, as all signs point to this being the Jude Bellingham show. Playing against his former team in front of home fans in England, Bellingham will not only score the winning goal for Real Madrid but also make a defensive change to help contain Dortmund’s attack. Already having one of the best debut seasons for a new club we have ever seen, Bellingham will finish on a high by winning the UCL final. -Chuck Booth

Match prediction: Real Madrid are the main favorites to win their 15th Champions League trophy, but Borussia Dortmund should not be underestimated given the importance of the final. The Spanish giants, thanks to the work of Carlo Ancelotti, can make history at Wembley and that’s what I hope will happen. CHOICE: Real Madrid 2, BVB 0. -Francesco Porzio

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