On June 1, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund will clash in a Champions League Final that nobody saw coming. Although everyone had Real Madrid on their list of favorites, especially after signing former Dortmund superstar Jude Bellingham this summer, BVB were the definition of underdogs coming into the knockout stages.
Dortmund have been hugely disappointing and were utterly lost without Bellingham until another one of their former English superstars, Jadon Sancho, showed up on loan from Manchester United.
A Sancho masterclass against Kylian Mbappe’s PSG later, and Dortmund are facing the Real Madrid juggernaut they once embarrassed 11 years ago to face bitter rivals Bayern Munich in the final at Wembley.
Now, Real Madrid are the ones going to Wembley, having just dispatched Bayern Munich in a nail-biting semifinal Remontada at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid may be the clear favorites to win it all, but Dortmund got here for a reason. They cannot be underestimated. Here are three underrated Dortmund players every Real Madrid fan should become familiar with before the final.
ST Niclas Fullkrug
Former Werder Bremen striker Niclas Fullkrug was the best German No. 9 in the 2022/23 season, but many Dortmund fans were unhappy when Edin Terzic decided to sign the veteran marksman instead of more center back help.
They were doubly insulted when Terzic used the Fullkrug signing as a means to phase talented youngster Youssoufa Moukoko out of the lineup entirely.
In the end, Terzic is getting the last laugh with a Champions League Final bid, during which Fullkrug has proven crucial. The 31-year-old has added six total goal contributions in the Champions League to a hefty 12 goals and 8 assists in the Bundesliga.
Fullkrug is Dortmund’s main attacking threat alongside wingers Jadon Sancho and Donyell Malen, who are undoubtedly familiar to most football fans.
An unsung hero, Fullkrug is a sharp finisher and an unselfish striker, perfectly settling into the Dortmund mentality of a striker working to help create chances for the wingers.
GK Gregor Kobel
Dortmund’s best player, Gregor Kobel has turned in so many stalwart big-game performances for the Black and Yellows in between the posts, so it is no surprise to see him in a Champions League Final at some point in his career.
One of the best young goalkeepers in the world, Kobel may have lost the mantle of “best” to Real Madrid breakout star Andriy Lunin, but the Swiss international very much remains elite.
Real Madrid were nearly thwarted by an elite Bundesliga goalkeeper in Manuel Neuer last round, and they are familiar with top keepers going Super Saiyan on them, especially while playing behind a low block.
Kobel has saved 75 percent of the shots he’s faced this season and will be itching to make a name for himself as the elite goalkeeper that he is.
CB Nico Schlotterbeck
Mats Hummels deserves a statue after the colossal performances he delivered against PSG in both Champions League semifinal fixtures, proving to the world and his many critics that he is far from finished.
Yes, Hummels may be a step slow for some opponents, but he has actually gotten better this season at mitigating the times when his declining athletic traits hurt him. His mind remains as sharp as ever.
However, Hummels isn’t the only great center back in Dortmund. Young Nico Schlotterbeck likewise turned heads for his displays against PSG, and when he is at his best, he looks like a world-class center back.
Schlotterbeck was one of the best players in the Bundesliga at any position in 2021/22 for underdogs Freiburg before Dortmund plucked him, and they would not have contended for the league title without the defender’s contributions.
Excellent with the ball at his feet, the athletic Schlotterbeck can create chances or even score goals from a central defensive position while providing the kind of covering defending that works perfectly in conjunction with the more stoic Hummels.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He has been an editor for NFL Spin Zone, Daily DDT for pro wrestling, Autzen Zoo covering the Oregon Ducks, Musket Fire covering the New England Patriots, The Real Champs covering Real Madrid, Old Juve covering Juventus, Rush The Kop covering Liverpool, and Release The Knappen covering Schalke. His work has been featured in ESPN, Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, NBC Sports, and other outlets. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.