Eleven years after their heartbreaking Champions League final defeat to arch-rivals Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund veterans Mats Hummels and Marco Reus are set to return to Wembley on Saturday, aiming to correct the past. This time, they face 14-time winners Real Madrid, who eliminated Bayern Munich in dramatic fashion in the semi-finals.

Hummels, 35, and Reus, 34, are approaching the twilight of their careers and this is likely their last Champions League final. Reus has announced that Saturday's match will be his last for Dortmund. Hummels, whose contract expires in the summer, indicated that the outcome of the match might influence his decision regarding his future.

A Champions League victory would be a fitting end for two of Dortmund's modern greats. Back in 2012-13, under Jurgen Klopp, Dortmund had an exciting young team and reached the final with high hopes. Hummels had established himself as a top defender, and Reus, newly returned to Dortmund from Borussia Mönchengladbach, was hailed as Germany's next great attacking talent.

The loss to Bayern in 2013 marked the beginning of a downturn for Dortmund. Klopp left in 2015 and later found success with Liverpool, reaching three Champions League finals and winning one, although he lost twice to Real Madrid. Hummels returned to Bayern in search of Champions League success but returned to Dortmund three years later, missing out on Bayern's Champions League victory in 2020. Now in a career renaissance, Hummels was named Man of the Match in both semi-final legs against Paris Saint-Germain, keeping Kylian Mbappé goalless.

Reus, despite offers from other clubs, remained loyal to Dortmund but never won the Bundesliga. He came close last season but a final-day draw with Mainz handed the title to Bayern again. Winning on Saturday would bring closure to his storied career at Dortmund.

Besides Hummels and Reus, Dortmund captain Emre Can, who lost the 2018 final to Real Madrid with Klopp’s Liverpool, and Niklas Süle, who won the 2020 final with Bayern, bring valuable experience to the squad. Can revealed he had been in touch with Klopp, who urged him to win the final.

Dortmund manager Edin Terzić emphasized Reus's importance to the team, stating, "Marco has shown that he's not finished yet... we need his quality and experience on Saturday." 

Young winger Karim Adeyemi, 22, known for his stellar European performances this season, expressed his determination to ensure a victorious farewell for Reus, stating, "I will personally do everything I can to make sure he leaves the pitch happy."

This match represents a chance for Hummels and Reus to conclude their careers at Dortmund with the elusive Champions League title and to finally set things right from their loss eleven years ago.