The Athletic looks at the Champions League finalists from 2019 to 2023 to gauge how their teams evolved over the campaign that followed

Borussia Dortmund travel to Real Madrid Tuesday in a rematch of last season's Champions League final amid worrying form and criticism of coach Nuri Sahin.

Dortmund's European excellence has come in contrast to their mixed domestic results; the visitors just about managed to scrape a nervy 2-1 win over St Pauli at the weekend, but they have lost their last two away games in the Bundesliga to Stuttgart (5-1) and Union Berlin (2-1).

Get the latest Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund predictions ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash. Free Champions League picks and predictions for October 22.

Jude Bellingham's first season at Real Madrid started with a glut of goals and ended with a dream double, but his second is yet to take off.

Serhou Guirassy has scored late for Borussia Dortmund to beat promoted St. Pauli 2-1 in the Bundesliga. It eases some pressure on the club before it faces Real Madrid.

Borussia Dortmund have returned to winning ways in the Bundesliga but their meagre 2-1 over St Pauli Hamburg was hardly a morale booster for the next major task on Tuesday. Dortmund travel to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid in what is a rematch of last season's Champions League final which Real won 2-0 at Wembley for a record-extending 15th title.

Borussia Dortmund secured their fourth victory of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season with a hard-fought 2-1 win against St. Pauli, temporarily placing them in the top four.