LONDON: Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic believes “anything is possible” as his side aim to pull off one of the biggest ever shocks in a Champions League final against the mighty Real Madrid at London’s Wembley stadium on Saturday.
The star-studded Spanish giants are heavy favorites to be crowned European champions for the 15th time, and a sixth in the last 11 seasons, against a Dortmund team that have beaten the odds just to make it to the English capital.
Madrid have lost just twice in 54 games in all competitions this season, storming to the title in La Liga by 10 points and thrashing Barcelona 4-1 to lift the Spanish Super Cup along the way.
However, they have had to once again dig deep to reach what coach Carlo Ancelotti described as the “biggest game of any season” in the Champions League.
“We have to enjoy being here,” said the Italian at his pre-match press conference. “But knowing it can go wrong because we are close to the most important thing in football — winning a Champions League — but having the fear this can escape us.”
Ancelotti’s men withstood a barrage from defending champions Manchester City to win their quarter-final tie on penalties before another legendary late fightback at the Santiago Bernabeu to beat Bayern Munich in the last four.
“We never stop believing, no matter how the circumstances are,” said Luka Modric, who along with Nacho, Dani Carvajal and Toni Kroos, in the final match of his club career, can win the European Cup for a record-equalling sixth time as a player.
“We always believe, keep believing, keep pushing, fighting until the end. In the end, we manage to find a way to beat opponents.
“Many people say there is luck, but when it happens so many times, I think it’s not just luck.”
Dortmund must breach the financial gulf between the sides to win the Champions League for just the second time in their history.
Last season Madrid posted record revenues of 831 million euros ($901 million) compared to Dortmund’s 420 million euros, according to financial experts Deloitte.
The career path of Jude Bellingham exemplifies the scale of the task facing the Germans.
Plucked from English Championship side Birmingham as a teenager, he was molded and developed by Dortmund before being picked off by Madrid for a transfer fee in excess of 100 million euros 12 months ago.
Without him, Dortmund struggled domestically this season, finishing fifth in the Bundesliga, 27 points adrift of Bayer Leverkusen.
Yet, Terzic’s men have saved their best for the Champions League stage to reach the final for the third time in the club’s history and first since they lost at Wembley to Bayern Munich 11 years ago.
Dortmund topped the group of death featuring Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Newcastle.
PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid were then seen off before a heroic defensive display kept out PSG over two legs in the semifinals.
“They are the favorites but we don’t care, we haven’t been the favorites against Atletico or against PSG,” said Terzic.
“But if we are brave and not here to watch Real Madrid lift the trophy, if we are here to give them a game, then we have a chance.”
Over 100,000 fans of the German giants are estimated to have made the trip to London despite the club being allocated just 30,000 tickets for the 90,000 capacity stadium.
UEFA will be hoping the focus is on the protagonists on the field come full-time to ensure their decision to return to Wembley for a major final is not questioned.
Three years ago, the final of Euro 2020 was marred by violence as ticketless fans stormed the stadium doors to gain entry.
The English Football Association have invested £5 million ($6 million) into improving safety and infrastructure at Wembley, which is also set to host the Euro 2028 final.
Dortmund dream of shocking Real Madrid in Champions League final
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Dortmund dream of shocking Real Madrid in Champions League final
Alargan and GS REDC launch first Saudi–Korean residential project ‘Oasis Residence’
Alargan Projects Company, in partnership with Korea’s GS REDC, has officially announced the launch of Oasis Residence, marking the first Saudi–Korean residential development in the Kingdom. The announcement was made during the project’s opening sales ceremony in Riyadh, underscoring a milestone in Saudi Arabia’s evolving residential sector and the growing role of international collaboration in the local market.
The launch represents a new model of international collaboration in Saudi Arabia’s residential sector, reflecting the combined strengths of Alargan’s local market expertise and the GS REDC’s international residential development experience in delivering housing aligned with the evolving needs of Saudi families.
Oasis Residence is located on Al-Thumamah Road in north Riyadh and comprises 182 modern semi-furnished residential apartments designed in line with contemporary urban concepts, offering a range of unit sizes with prices starting from SR787,000 ($209,900).
The development features expansive green areas and fully integrated amenities, including a fitness center, residents’ lounge, children’s play area, café, private basement parking, and community facilities. Special emphasis has been placed on construction quality, with structural warranties of up to 10 years, reflecting a long-term commitment to durability, quality, and sustainability.
CEO of Alargan Projects Company Eyad Albunyan said the launch of Oasis Residence marks a key milestone in the company’s journey and that the partnership represents a meaningful addition to Alargan’s project portfolio. He said: “We are proud to launch the first-day sales of Oasis Residence, the first Saudi–Korean residential project in the Kingdom. The project reflects Alargan’s strategy to develop integrated communities that enhance quality of life. Our partnership with GS REDC has enabled us to incorporate international residential development expertise tailored to the Saudi market, setting a new benchmark for modern living.”
Phase 2 of Oasis Residence underway
Building on the success of the first phase, Alargan Projects Company and GS REDC have commenced construction of Oasis Residence Phase II, which will deliver an additional 248 residential units. The second phase follows the same development philosophy as the initial project while responding to growing demand for high-quality apartment living in northern Riyadh.
With both phases combined, Oasis Residence is expected to emerge as a prominent residential community contributing to the diversification and modernization of the city’s housing supply.
GS REDC’s expanding role in Saudi Arabia
GS REDC, the real estate development arm wholly owned by GS Engineering and Construction — a global construction group with more than 50 years of residential development experience in Korea — brings international planning and development expertise to the partnership. Working closely with Alargan, the company has applied this experience to deliver a project tailored to the Saudi market, while introducing a refined touch of Korean residential design and lifestyle to Riyadh.
Beyond Oasis Residence, GS REDC is also participating in a major National Housing Company–led residential development of approximately 2,500 apartment units, reflecting growing confidence in the company as a partner across both private and government-led housing initiatives.
General Manager of GS REDC Woongjo Choi said that Saudi Arabia represents one of the company’s key strategic international markets. He said: “Oasis Residence marks the beginning of a new phase for GS REDC’s presence in the Kingdom’s residential development sector. Through this partnership, we aim to transfer the concept of integrated communities and the ‘all-in-one’ model to the city, supporting the Kingdom’s long-term housing objectives. GS REDC stands as the first and remains the only Korean developer to enter the Saudi housing market. With the sales launch of this project, GS REDC has firmly established its position as a bona fide global developer in Saudi Arabia. Moving forward, we intend to actively pursue a rapid transition into high-rise hyper-end apartments, urban development projects, and government-led giga-projects.”
A Saudi-led model for international collaboration
The launch of Oasis Residence highlights a Saudi-led development model in which local developers take the lead while collaborating with experienced international partners to elevate planning, design, and execution standards. Through this approach, Alargan Projects Company continues to strengthen its leadership position in the Saudi residential development sector while contributing to the overall advancement of housing quality in the Kingdom.
