Why Gregor Kobel's Borussia Dortmund heroics are a bad sign for Champions League final chances vs. Real Madrid
CBSN
Goalkeepers performing extremely well in UCL, as of late, typically don't end up winning it all
Despite finishing fifth in the Bundesliga, against all odds, Borussia Dortmund will have a chance to win their first Champions League title since 1997 on Saturday. The Black and Yellow will be up against it facing a Real Madrid side in pursuit of a 15th Champions League title but the stature of a team hasn't phased the German club so far in the tournament and it won't begin to now. When examining how Dortmund have been able to defy the odds, one of the main reasons has been goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who helped hold PSG goalless across two semifinal legs. 1 Andre Onana Inter 2022-23 7.84 2 Gregor Kobel Borussia Dortmund 2023-24 7.09* 3 Odysseas Vlachodimos Benfica 2021-22 6.42 4 Dominik Livakovic Dinamo Zagreb 2019-20 6.14 5 Thibaut Courtois Real Madrid 2022-23 5.85 6 Manuel Neuer Bayern Munich 2020-21 5.37 7 Nick Pope Newcastle United 2023-24 4.86 8 Simon Mignolet Club Brugge 2022-23 4.78 9 Thibaut Courtois Real Madrid 2020-21 4.63 10 Anthony Racioppi Young Boys 2023-24 4.53
"It looks like we feel comfortable in that situation [as underdogs] but I think it doesn't really matter for us as a team if we're considered the underdog or not. We built up a lot of confidence throughout this Champions League campaign," Kobel said to CBS Sports Golazo Network ahead of the Champions League final. "We beat a lot of good teams and we showed that we can beat every opponent that is in front of us and with this confidence we approach the game Saturday as well."
The Swiss keeper has been in amazing form this season leading all goalkeepers in saves with 42 and clean sheets with six. Despite Paris Saint-Germain producing numerous attacks during their knockout matches against Dortmund, Kobel was able to blank them to secure a spot in the final. Real Madrid's Andriy Lunin's 38 saves are third most following Kobel but no keeper has prevented more than Kobel's 7.09 goals in Champions League play. Lunin does make the top 10 with 2.12 goals prevented but that still shows the difference between the duo.
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