By Seyi Babalola
Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund will face off at Wembley Stadium on Saturday in the Champions League final, which will put the club season to an end.
Here’s a look at some of the big talking themes before the game.
England ace Jude is ready to star for Real.
Jude Bellingham has had a successful first season at Real Madrid, having moved from Dortmund last summer, and will be looking to cap it off with a victory over his previous team.
When he finalized his move, the 20-year-old requested Zinedine Zidane’s former number-five shirt, and he has begun to meet the lofty expectations that come with such a request.
With 23 goals and 12 assists throughout the campaign to date, the England midfielder could be key to Real lifting an unrivaled 15th European Cup.
Sancho has a point to prove
Another Englishman looking to make an impact on proceedings is Jadon Sancho, who has been in good form since returning to Dortmund on loan from Manchester United in January.
The 24-year-old struggled for consistency at Old Trafford and left under a cloud following a falling out with manager Erik ten Hag.
Since then he has started to rebuild his reputation in Germany with some eye-catching performances en route to the Champions League final.
And he will look to create a better personal memory at Wembley after missing in the penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final three years ago.
Kroos Control
Toni Kroos, who won four Champions League championships and four La Liga titles during a trophy-laden decade in Madrid, will play his farewell game for the club at Wembley.
The 34-year-old, who won three league championships with Bayern Munich and the 2014 World Cup with Germany, is retiring following this summer’s home European Championship.
Can the Bundesliga team upset the odds?
While Real will be regarded as big favourites beneath the Wembley arch, Dortmund will be hoping to shock the odds.
Head coach Edin Terzic has served a variety of roles at the club and, in his second term as manager, has the potential to bring the club’s first Champions League victory since 1997.
As a scout and coach at the club’s academy, he reported to former manager Jurgen Klopp, but on Saturday, he can outperform the German, who was in control when Dortmund last reached the final in 2013, losing 2-1 to Bayern Munich at Wembley.
A former Potter, looking to cast his magic.
Mark Hughes is sure to have rubbed his eyes in astonishment as he watched Joselu score two late goals to defeat Bayern Munich in the semifinals.
Welshman Hughes signed Joselu in the summer of 2015, but he only scored four goals before being loaned out, eventually returning to England for a similarly unimpressive two-year spell at Newcastle United.
However, after moving to the Bernabeu on loan from Espanyol this season, the 34-year-old cemented his place in Real history with a match-winning brace, and he will now be trying to replicate the feat at Wembley.
