Dortmund vs Real Madrid: 5 Biggest Upsets in Champions League Final History

• Borussia Dortmund will face Real Madrid in the Champions League final on Saturday
• The Bundesliga side are looking to upset Los Blancos to win their first UCL since 1997
• Sports Brief takes a look at five of the greatest upsets in the Champions League final

The Champions League finals are monumental events for the competing teams' supporters and for neutral fans eagerly anticipating top-tier football on UEFA's grandest stage.

Since its rebranding in 1992, the Champions League has consistently produced finals rich with drama, memorable goals, and often tense penalty shootouts to determine the champion.

Although Real Madrid have dominated recent years with five titles from the last 10 finals leading up to the 2024 edition, the history of the finals is peppered with thrilling endings and remarkable underdog triumphs.

Top 10 ranking of the best Real Madrid legends of all time

Football

Premier League clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea have all been at the centre of some of the most unforgettable nights in Champions League lore.

Upsets in the Champions League final can arise from unexpected pre-match developments and extraordinary on-field performances.

Here, Sports Brief highlights five of the most remarkable examples.

5 Champions League biggest upsets

Marseille 1-0 AC Milan (1993)

The inaugural Champions League final delivered a stunning outcome when Marseille triumphed over AC Milan 1-0 in Munich. The French team, having previously lost to Red Star Belgrade on penalties in the 1991 European Cup final, faced a formidable Milan side with five European Cup victories to their name.

Despite the presence of attacking stars such as Rudi Völler and Alen Bokšić for Marseille, and Frank Rijkaard and Marco van Basten for Milan, it was Marseille defender Basile Boli who secured the victory. Boli's decisive first-half header sealed the match, etching Marseille's name into Champions League history.

All of Dortmund's rivals revealed: Find out who they are here

Football

Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Juventus (1997)

Ottmar Hitzfeld's Dortmund faced defending champions Juventus after finishing third in the Bundesliga and defeating Manchester United in the semi-finals, per BVB.de.

Marcello Lippi's Juventus, aiming to defend their title, were outplayed by Hitzfeld's disciplined Dortmund. Two goals from Karl-Heinz Riedle gave Dortmund a 2-0 lead at half-time.

Alessandro Del Piero's backheel brought Juventus back into contention, but substitute Lars Ricken secured Dortmund's only Champions League title with a quick goal after entering the pitch.

Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich (1999)

Liverpool's 2005 win wasn't the first unbelievable Champions League final comeback by a Premier League team; Manchester United had already made history in Barcelona.

Fresh from winning the Premier League and FA Cup, Sir Alex Ferguson's side aimed to be the first English team to secure a treble. Facing Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, United were surprised by Mario Basler's early goal.

Zidane's coaching career: Looking at the coaching career of the football legend

Football

As the match progressed, Ferguson brought on super-subs Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

In a dramatic finish, Sheringham equalised in added time, and Solskjaer scored the winner moments later, etching United's name into the history books, per UEFA.

AC Milan 3 -3 Liverpool (Liverpool won 3-2 on penalties - 2005)

Liverpool's stunning 2005 comeback against AC Milan in Istanbul remains one of the most memorable Champions League finals.

Carlo Ancelotti's Milan, who had won the competition two years earlier, were heavy favourites against a Liverpool team that had finished fifth in the Premier League.

Early goals from Paolo Maldini and a brace from Hernan Crespo gave Milan a 3-0 half-time lead.

However, Rafa Benitez's tactical changes and Steven Gerrard's inspirational leadership spurred Liverpool's revival.

Goals from Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer, and Xabi Alonso forced extra time. Goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek's crucial save against Andriy Shevchenko and his heroics in the penalty shootout secured Liverpool's improbable victory.

Cristiano Ronaldo makes savage Arsenal Premier League prediction at Fury vs Usyk fight

Football

Bayern Munich 1-1 Chelsea (Chelsea won 4-3 on penalties - 2012)

Chelsea shocked the football world by defeating Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League final. Fans will recall Roberto Di Matteo, unexpectedly managing from the bench at Bayern's Allianz Arena.

Appointed as a caretaker in March, Di Matteo had already guided Chelsea past defending champions Barcelona in the semi-finals.

Despite Thomas Müller's late goal that seemed to secure victory for Bayern, Chelsea's Didier Drogba headed in an equalizer, forcing extra time.

Di Matteo's underdog strategy paid off, completing a remarkable journey for the Blues.

Kroos warns Madrid ahead of Dortmund final

In an earlier publication, Sports Brief reported that Toni Kroos issued a warning to Real Madrid as they prepare for the Champions League final against Dortmund.

Despite his team's rich history in the competition, Kroos, who announced his retirement on Tuesday, May 21, feels the German side must not be underestimated.

With the final approaching, the veteran, who has five UCL titles to his name, stressed the importance of his Real Madrid team respecting their opponents.