Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic is optimistic about his team’s chances to surprise Real Madrid in the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium in London this Saturday.

The star-studded Spanish giants are favored to win their 15th European championship, and their sixth in the last 11 seasons, against a Dortmund team that has defied the odds to reach this stage.

Madrid has lost only twice in 54 games across all competitions this season, securing the La Liga title with a 10-point lead and dominating Barcelona 4-1 to win the Spanish Super Cup. Despite this, they faced significant challenges in the Champions League, described by coach Carlo Ancelotti as the "biggest game of any season."

Ancelotti’s team survived a tough quarter-final against Manchester City, winning on penalties, and staged another dramatic comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu to overcome Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.

"We never stop believing, no matter the circumstances," said Luka Modric. He, along with Nacho, Dani Carvajal, and Toni Kroos, who is playing his final club game, could win the European Cup for a record-equalling sixth time.

"Many say it's luck, but when it happens so often, it’s not just luck," Modric added.

The journey of Jude Bellingham illustrates the challenge facing Dortmund. Bellingham was signed from English Championship side Birmingham, developed by Dortmund, and then transferred to Madrid for over 100 million euros ($109 million) a year ago.

Without Bellingham, Dortmund struggled domestically, finishing fifth in the Bundesliga, 27 points behind Bayer Leverkusen. Nonetheless, Terzic’s team excelled in the Champions League, reaching the final for the third time in the club’s history and the first since losing to Bayern Munich at Wembley 11 years ago.

Dortmund topped a tough group that included Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, and Newcastle. They then defeated PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid, followed by a strong defensive performance against PSG in the semi-finals.

"They are the favourites, but we don't care," said Terzic. "If we are brave and play to win, we have a chance."

Contrasting with Madrid's status as the kings of the competition, Dortmund's only Champions League victory came in 1997. Despite being allocated just 30,000 tickets, over 100,000 Dortmund fans are expected to travel to London.

Marco Reus, one of only two Dortmund players who played in the 2013 final, is hoping for a perfect end to his career. Saturday will be his 429th and final game for Dortmund, and he dreams of winning the Champions League in his last match.

"I can't imagine a better ending than winning a Champions League final," said Reus, who turned 35 on Friday. "Our goal is to win because we can't imagine how amazing the next day in Dortmund would be."

UEFA hopes the focus remains on the match, especially after the Euro 2020 final at Wembley was marred by violence from ticketless fans. The English Football Association has invested £5 million ($6 million) to improve safety and infrastructure at Wembley, which is also set to host the Euro 2028 final.