Real Madrid eyes title before Mbappe arrival

Whether they admit it or not, there is no doubt Real Madrid consider themselves favorites to beat Borussia Dortmund on Saturday and win a record-extending 15th Champions League trophy.

Not only because the German side are shock finalists, but simply because the kings of Europe would feel the same way regardless of the opposition.

Another triumph on the biggest stage would be the perfect showcase of their power and prestige to superstar striker Kylian Mbappe, set to join from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.

Madrid play with a belief that they will prevail, but also with the humility to know that to do so requires flexibility in the “how.”

They demonstrated as much in the quarterfinals against champions Manchester City, keeping their backs to the wall and squeezing through on penalties.

They delivered a trademark last-gasp sucker-punch on Bayern Munich to reach the final after falling behind, with substitute Joselu netting a late brace for Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

That is precisely when comeback experts Madrid strike — just when opponents start to believe that they can’t do it, that they are finally defeated, that they are out.

“We’re not thinking about whether we’re favourites, but about playing against a team that deserves it too,” Madrid coach Ancelotti told reporters Monday.

“We know that we will have to suffer and fight like in all finals.”

The next closest side to Los Blancos in overall victories is AC Milan with seven, the most recent of those 17 years ago.

Ancelotti pointed out one of the principal reasons for Madrid’s dominance — the club’s president.

“Here there is a captain and he’s called Florentino Perez,” said the Italian earlier in May. “The rest of us are sailors.”

The chief has been the constant in Madrid’s most recent era of success, although their love affair with the European Cup started long before his reign.

The competition began in the 1950s, when Santiago Bernabeu was the club’s chief, and Madrid took to it like a duck to water.

They won the first five editions of the tournament, between 1956 and 1960.

“Madrid’s history is born in the 50s, in this competition,” said Ancelotti.

“It’s a competition where you concentrate more, you are more focussed.”