Depending on what side of the pond you hail from, Saturday is a big football or soccer day. Whatever you call the sport, at 3 p.m. ET/ 12 p.m. PT, Borussia Dortmund will face Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley Stadium in London. Here’s how to watch—and what you need to know going into the big game.
A very brief history lesson
The European Cup first held the tournament during the 1955-56 season. The first team to become the victor was none other than Real Madrid.
Only 16 teams competed in the inaugural event. These days, it has expanded to 32 teams. A name change occurred in 1992, making it the Union of European Football Associations, or UEFA.
Déjà Vu
This won’t be the first time these teams have faced off. They’ve gone head-to-head 14 times in European club competition. Borussia Dortmund won three games while Real Madrid bested them in six games. The last time they met on the pitch was during the group stage of the 2017-18 Champions League. Real Madrid won both matches.
An Impressive Record
Real Madrid’s past performance in the tournament is unrivaled. They have made it to the finals 17 times; and of those, won it all 14 times. In comparison, the second-most wins belongs to AC Milan, which was victorious seven times. Borussia Dortmund has only one title to its name, from the 1996-97 season.
Some farewells are in order
Toni Kros, a highly regarded German international midfielder, previously announced his retirement. This will be his last match for Real Madrid, which he joined in 2014.
Marco Reus isn’t retiring but is leaving Borussia Dortmund after 12 years. He is the team’s second-highest goal scorer of all time but is moving on as a free transfer. He believes in his team’s chances to win it all, even though the odds are against them.
How to watch the Champions League final on TV, online, or on a mobile device
Traditional cable subscribers can watch the game on CBS. This is also a great free option because all you need is an over-the-air antenna and reception to get the channel.
The action will also be available on the Paramount+ streaming service, where you can watch it on a connected TV, online, or via the mobile app. The service offers a free seven-day trial for new subscribers.
Make Ted Lasso proud and tune in!