Weekend Review: Real Madrid defeat Dortmund to make Champions League history with 15th triumph
There were no surprises at Wembley as Real Madrid ran out 2-0 winners over Borussia Dortmund to secure yet another Champions League title
Real Madrid (1/3) won the Champions League for the 15th time in the club’s history following a hard-fought 2-0 victory over German giants Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on Saturday night.
Despite early dominance from the Bundesliga outfit, second half goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior were enough to ensure Carlo Ancelotti’s men were crowned kings of Europe for the sixth time since 2014.
The win means Real Madrid are now holders of both the Champions League and La Liga titles, following a stellar campaign that saw Los Blancos lose just twice in 55 games across all competitions – both at the hands of city rivals Atletico Madrid.
Bet365’s Steve Freeth conceded the operator lost on the outright market but match betting on the showpiece event presented a different picture entirely.
He remarked: “Having won it 14 times before, you’d have thought we’d have learnt our lesson by now because it’s their trophy, it’s their competition and Real Madrid just know how to get the job done in the Champions League.
📸 🏆 🎉 😁✌️#CHAMP15NS pic.twitter.com/8BQexA0LE9
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) June 3, 2024
“Carlo Ancelotti’s team were 7/1 after the quarter-final first leg against Manchester City and went off at 1/3 at Wembley as we lost a considerable amount on the outright market.
“Fortunately, it was a different story in the match betting as we landed on the right side of the majority of bet builders. Dani Carvajal at 28/1 opening the scoring, as well as being named player of the match (33/1), helped enormously, as did Jude Bellingham not having a shot on target and Vinicius Junior having just one – albeit a goal – having been backed to find the back of the net,” Freeth added.
The result could have an impact on who this year’s Ballon d’Or is awarded to, with two Real Madrid talents in Vinicius Junior (8/13) (biggest price 33/1) and Toni Kroos (9/1) (biggest price 150/1) now firmly in the running.
Meanwhile, Kindred Group’s Ali Gill explained how the operator fared following Real Madrid’s triumph.
He said: “Despite the Champions League going the way most people thought, we actually managed to squeeze a good result out overall as we finished ahead.
“The over goals line not being hit as well as a few players under performing on their stats lines managed to offset the 1X2 result, and the Champions League finished with a good result for the book.”
Football isn’t a fairytale and there aren’t always happy endings.
Our story continues, and we couldn’t do it without your support. Our Yellow Wonderwall through it all.
Thank you 💛
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) June 1, 2024
The Champions League final was not the only high-profile sporting event to take place on Saturday. Hours before kick-off under the iconic Wembley arch, the 2024 Epsom Derby was won by City of Troy to extend trainer Aidan O’Brien’s remarkable run of victories to 10.
Despite a dismal display at Newmarket’s 2,000 Guineas last month, jockey Ryan Moore guided the colt to a dominant performance that saw City of Troy win by two-and-three-quarter lengths.
Kindred’s Gill said: “A poor run last time out as well as a poor draw in stall 1 saw him drift out a bit to go off 3/1, but that didn’t put punters off and no surprise that one was a negative in the book.
“With no other winning favourites on the day, overall we came out ahead on a top-class day of racing.”
What an athlete 🚀 #CityOfTroy
📷 @focusonracing pic.twitter.com/1n6Oe2GLCQ
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 1, 2024
But, City of Troy’s triumph sparked a “disastrous result” for the trading desk, according to Betfred’s Alan Firkins.
Reflecting on the race, Firkins noted: “He’s the regally bred son of an American Triple Crown winner, Justify, out of a Group One-winning Galileo mare.
“On Saturday at Epsom, City of Troy galloped into the history books with an emphatic success in the Betfred Derby, confounding critics who thought it impossible after his lacklustre showing in Newmarket’s 2.000 Guineas almost exactly one month ago.”
Company founder Fred Done added: “City Of Troy has cost us a fortune, but you have to pay out with a smile when you are witnessing history. An incredible achievement from Aidan O’Brien to win 10 Derbies. He truly is the master.”