Would a Dortmund victory in the Champions League final have an impact on the German European Cup starters? Where can the final be seen? Can Real be beaten at all? The dpa answers some questions.
On Saturday, the biggest and most important match at club level in the world will take place at London’s Wembley Stadium – the final of the European Champions League. For the first time since Bayern Munich’s triumph four years ago, there will be German participation. After eleven years, Borussia Dortmund is returning to the place where the Bundesliga club lost to Bayern in its last final appearance. BVB is a clear underdog against the world’s biggest club, Real Madrid.
Where will the game be broadcast?
The game will be broadcast free of charge to everyone on Saturday (9 p.m.) on ZDF. The pre-match report will start at 7.25 p.m. Jochen Breyer will be the presenter, Oliver Schmidt will be the commentator. The 2014 World Champions Per Mertesacker and Christoph Kramer will be the experts. The fee-based internet broadcaster DAZN will also be streaming the game and will start its pre-match report at 8.15 p.m. Jan Platte will be the commentator and Laura Wontorra will be the presenter. Michael Ballack will be the expert.
According to UEFA, the game will be shown live in at least 90 countries around the world. In an additional seven regions, such as North Africa and the Middle East, as well as the Caribbean and South American states, there are cross-border licensees, meaning the game will be shown in significantly more countries around the world.
Are there public viewings in Dortmund for BVB fans who stay at home?
There are official group viewings at three different locations in Dortmund: at the Fredenbaum festival site, at Hansaplatz and in the Westfalenhallen. The Fredenbaum festival site has space for up to 20,000 people, the Hansaplatz for up to 7,500 people, and in the Westfalenhallen 3 and 4 there is additional space for another 11,000 people. The first two events are free of charge, and admission to the Westfalenhallen costs 9.09 euros.
How big are Borussia Dortmund’s chances?
Real Madrid has won the Champions League or its predecessor, the European Cup, 14 times – more than any other club in Europe. In the last ten years alone, they have won five times. Since the Champions League started in 1992/1993, the Royals have won all eight finals they have played in since then. The last European Cup final that Real lost was 41 years ago: in 1983, they lost 2-1 after extra time to Aberdeen FC in the European Cup Winners’ Cup. “It’s unbelievable when you look at the history of this club,” said BVB captain Emre Can. “The outside world will see Real in the lead and think that they are sure winners, but it won’t be easy to play against us.”
What financial benefit does reaching the final bring to Dortmund?
An estimated 200 million euros – including the money the club will earn next year as a participant in the new Club World Cup in the USA. By the time of the final, BVB had already earned around 120 million euros, while Real had received 132 million euros so far. The sum is made up of entry fees (15.46 million euros for each club), success bonuses (58.46), national market pool (around 20) and the coefficient ranking (27.29). The coefficient ranking calculates the European Cup performance over the past ten years.
What impact would a Dortmund victory have on the German European Cup participants?
So far, five Bundesliga clubs are starting in the Champions League next season: Bayer Leverkusen, VfB Stuttgart, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Dortmund. If BVB wins the Champions League, Eintracht Frankfurt would also start in the European premier class as sixth in the Bundesliga table. However, there would then be no additional European Cup starter from Germany. Frankfurt would simply move up to the Champions League, TSG Hoffenheim would start in the Europa League and 1. FC Heidenheim would take part in the qualification for the Conference League as before.
What else is important?
In Toni Kroos, at least one 2014 world champion is retiring from the big football stage – at least as a club player. The 34-year-old will play in the European Championship for Germany before ending his career. It is unclear what Mats Hummels will do. The 35-year-old defender from Borussia Dortmund won the World Cup with Kroos ten years ago. Hummels has not yet commented on his future. If he too were to retire, the Champions League final would be his last game. For the great BVB legend Marco Reus, it will definitely be his last appearance for Dortmund. The 34-year-old will no longer play for the Westphalians next season, but would like to continue his career abroad – probably in the USA.
Source: Stern
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