Five things Real Madrid will do before the Champions League final against Dortmund

Real Madrid have once again made it to the UEFA Champions League final. On Saturday night, Los Blancos will face German side Borussia Dortmund in their quest for a 15th Champions League title. This matchup promises an exhilarating clash between two of Europe’s elite teams. Both sides boast impressive records this season, with Real Madrid remaining undefeated and Dortmund achieving the most clean sheets, with six.

For Real Madrid, the journey to another potential title extends beyond just performance statistics. Los Blancos have cultivated a legendary status in European football, evidenced by their record 14 Champions League trophies—double that of the second-most successful club (AC Milan with 7). Their success is deeply intertwined with various traditions and superstitions that the club faithfully observes before each of their 17 Champions League final appearances.

The Jeremy De Leon factor

One such tradition this season involves head coach Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to include Puerto Rican youth player Jeremy de Leon in the squad list for the final. Despite not being registered for the competition and therefore ineligible to play, de Leon traveled to London with the team.

Jeremy De Leon trained with the first team on Friday ahead of the final (Photo via 10jeremyandre/IG)

Reports from Spain suggest that Ancelotti views the young star as a ‘talisman.’ Ancelotti, known for his superstitious nature, stated last week, “Superstitious, yes, a little. I know it’s not good to say it, but not being superstitious leads to bad luck.”

The traditional pilot crew

Another key tradition involves Real Madrid’s travel arrangements. The club always ensures to use the same pilot crew for every crucial away game. This custom began on their road to Lisbon after defeating Bayern Munich 4-0 at the Allianz Arena in the semi-finals.

Los Blancos always request to travel with the same pilots to big games around Europe (Photo via Marca)

Although this tradition was momentarily interrupted in 2018 due to logistical changes for the Kiev final, it has been reinstated. Juan Cierco, Iberia’s corporate director, confirmed in an interview with COPE: “Florentino Pérez and the entire Real Madrid delegation always want some lucky charms and are faithful to the traditions. One of them is to fly with Iberia and another is to fly with certain people who have accompanied them throughout these last years and who have given them luck.”

Toni Kroos: The last man standing

Real Madrid also uphold specific rituals on match day. For instance, Toni Kroos, who will be playing his final game before retirement, consistently ensures he is the last to get off the team bus during big games. This ritual will be observed at Wembley when the team arrives for the final against Dortmund.

The tifo for the big nights

The iconic ‘Hasta El Final, Vamos Real’ banner is another hallmark of Real Madrid’s Champions League finals. Created by Grada Fans, Real Madrid’s Official Fan group, this banner only appears during these crucial matches.

Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League Final – San Siro Stadium, Milan.

The message it carries translates to English as: ‘Until the end. Let’s go Real’. It represents the unwavering support of the fans, who are also known as the White Wall. The banner was last seen in the 2022 final against Liverpool in Paris.

Nacho Pena on the microphone

Finally, the presence of Nacho Pena, Real Madrid’s lucky announcer, is a tradition that fans eagerly anticipate. Since his debut in the Lisbon final, Pena has taken charge of announcing the squad list and goals, as well as rallying the fans before warm-ups. His role has become an essential part of Real Madrid’s pre-match rituals in the grand finale.

One very important detail which cannot be left out is the ‘Matador celebration’.

Th Matador celebration by Nacho in 2022. (Photo via Guardian)

This is done by a Spanish player within the team after the opponent has been conquered. In the past, Raul Gonzalez and Sergio Ramos were in charge of this celebration.

After Real Madrid won the trophy in 2022, Nacho Fernandez took the responsibility. A video posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Real fan Tonin shows that the Matador costume has already arrived in London.

Real Madrid fan Tonin with the Matador costume in London.

As Real Madrid prepare for another shot at glory, these traditions and superstitions encapsulate the club’s unique identity and enduring legacy in European football. Win or lose, the rituals and the unwavering belief of everyone associated with Los Blancos underscore the spirit that drives this storied institution.