Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are set to meet in the 2023-24 Champions League final after they eliminated Bayern Munich and PSG, respectively, earlier this week. The Champions League 2024 odds are in favour of Los Blancos, but it would be foolish to completely rule out the Yellow Wall.
Both teams got this far because of the fine performances of their players. And football fans are going to be treated to new Champions League 2024 highlights at Wembley Stadium because this is all for the marbles.
As we look ahead to another exciting final, SBOTOP is here to pay tribute to the stars who shined the brightest in the two semi-final legs, with a particular focus on the winners, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.
So, who are they? Continue reading below to learn more.
Vinicius Jr., Real Madrid
Vinicius Jr. was responsible for giving Los Blancos a sliver of hope ahead of the second leg against Bayern Munich by scoring a brace in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals.
The Brazilian winger gave Los Blancos a 1-0 lead when he applied the finishing touch from Toni Kroos’ sublime pass in the 24th minute, but Bayern Munich answered with a fierce effort by Leroy Sane eight minutes after halftime.
It got worse for Real Madrid in the 57th minute when Lucas Vazquez brought down Jamal Musiala inside the box, and Harry Kane converted the penalty with a cool finish.
Real Madrid needed a stroke of luck, and they got it in the 83rd minute after Kim Min-Jae fouled Rodrygo inside the box and Vinicius Jr. stepped up to tie the ballgame.
Big-time players make big-time plays, and that’s what Vinicius Jr. did, as he scored two goals away from home in a hostile crowd during a Champions League semi-final. Vinicius Jr. is the team’s second-leading scorer with 18 goals and nine assists this season, and he’ll be a dangerous customer in the final.
Joselu, Real Madrid
Joselu emerged as one of the unlikely heroes for Real Madrid, as he also notched a brace during the second leg of their Champions League semi-finals tiff against Bayern Munich.
After a goalless first half between the two sides, it was Bayern Munich who took a 1-0 lead when Alphonso Davies scored in transition on 68 minutes for his first goal in the tournament.
Real Madrid’s hopes looked over, but they always find a way in this competition, and that is where Joselu came in. The 34-year-old loanee from Espanyol came off the bench to replace Fede Valverde in the 81st minute, and he scored two goals in the 88th and 91st minutes to break the Bavarian giants’ hearts.
Joselu could only have dreamed of this moment a year ago, but now he has written his name into Real Madrid’s annals in what will probably go down as the greatest night of his football career.
Niclas Fullkrug, Borussia Dortmund
The semi-finals between Borussia Dortmund and PSG only featured two goals, with the former scoring both, and one of the BVB players who scored is their veteran striker, Niclas Fullkrug.
The 31-year-old played his No. 9 role to perfection, as he led the line well and was a focal point on the attack. Fullkrug scored the only goal at Signal Iduna Park by converting a pass by Jadon Sancho in the 36th minute of the first leg.
Niclas Fullkrug is having a solid campaign overall with Borussia Dortmund, as he now has 15 goals and 11 assists this year.
Jadon Sancho, Borussia Dortmund
Mats Hummels may have scored the goal that sent BVB through the Champions League final, but we’re picking Jadon Sancho instead, given his overall impact in the semi-finals.
Other than his assist on Niclas Fullkrug’s blazing volley in the first leg victory, the 24-year-old winger has been a constant menace throughout the semi-finals, dribbling past defenders and completing key passes.
Jadon Sancho had the highest passing percentage on the team in the second leg at 63.64-per cent, making him arguably their top attacking threat.
But at the same time, Sancho’s work rate shouldn’t be ignored because he has definitely provided enough help defencively. He linked up with full-back Julian Ryerson to contain the threat of Kylian Mbappe, who was rather anonymous in the two semi-final legs. Since Sancho is on loan, BVB have a huge decision to make this summer. Of course, they’re keen on keeping him for longer, but Manchester United aren’t willing to let Sancho go for cheap, considering the high fee they paid BVB for his services in 2021.
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