Dortmund made their mark five minutes into the second half with a decisive header from Mats Hummels that silenced the crowd at the Parc des Princes. Now, Dortmund is set for a dramatic final, their first since 2013 when they faced Bayern Munich. This match holds extra emotional weight as it marks Marco Reus’s last appearance with Dortmund.

Marco Reus’s journey began in Dortmund’s youth ranks where he spent a decade developing his skills before moving on to make his professional debut elsewhere. Initially, Reus played for Rot Weiss Ahlen and later joined Borussia Mönchengladbach. After three impressive seasons at Gladbach from 2009 to 2012, Dortmund paid 17 million euros to bring him back, setting the stage for a remarkable story of loyalty and dedication in football.

Reus is a true emblem of commitment in the world of soccer. The German forward has spent over a decade with Borussia Dortmund, turning down some lucrative offers to continue his development with the club he's always loved.

In 2013, Reus was visibly devastated on the pitch at the London stadium after Dortmund lost the Champions League final to a late goal by Arjen Robben. Despite dominating the tournament and knocking out Real Madrid in the semifinals, thanks to a four-goal haul from Lewandowski in the first leg, victory slipped through their fingers.

Now, 11 years later, Reus, no longer sporting his signature blonde tuft and covered in tattoos, is eager for a chance to win at Wembley in what will be his final shot at glory. According to the German tabloid Bild, the Dortmund locker room is rallying to win not just the title but to give Reus the send-off he deserves, making this a deeply significant and potentially historic moment for him and the club.

Throughout his career with some injuries

“I’m incredibly thankful and proud of this special moment with my club. I’ve spent more than half of my life here and I’ve cherished every day, even though there have been tough times,” stated the player in a farewell video released by the club, following the mutual decision not to renew his contract expiring in June.

The career of the German forward has been marred by injuries and misfortunes. A severe ankle injury ruled him out of the World Cup in Brazil, forcing him to watch from home as his teammates lifted the trophy. That was just the beginning of many injuries that abruptly halted his progress. He also missed out on winning the Bundesliga title, with heartbreaking losses on the last day of the season on two occasions; last year, they only needed a win against Mainz, who had nothing to play for, but they ended up drawing.

Reus has won two German Cups and two Super Cups in Dortmund colors, but the Bundesliga and the Champions League titles have eluded him. When he leaves, he will do so as the club’s second-highest all-time scorer, with 168 goals and 128 assists in 425 appearances.

Loyalty to his club

Marco Reus has spent twelve uninterrupted seasons as a player for Borussia Dortmund’s first team. Over the years, several top players have lined up alongside him, sporting the black and yellow, such as Mario Gotze, Robert Lewandowski, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho, and Jude Bellingham. However, while many of his teammates moved to more prestigious clubs in Europe, Reus remained steadfast with Dortmund.

“Marco Reus is one of the best players the club has ever had. He was born in Dortmund, played in the youth teams, has been with the first team for 12 years, and was the team captain for a long time. His bond with Borussia Dortmund is extraordinary,” said Hans-Joachim Watzke, the club’s CEO.

Beyond his skills on the field, his connection with the fans at the Westfalenstadion was built on a foundation of loyalty. Despite interest from major European clubs, including Barcelona, he chose to stay at Dortmund while other significant figures departed. Some left, others came and went, and Reus remained.

Having reduced his role in the team, last year he decided to step down from the captaincy after five years. Particularly in this season's second half, Reus found himself more often on the bench, playing just 13 minutes between the match against Atlético and the first leg of the semi-finals against PSG.

“It’s going to be hard to say goodbye at the end of the season,” the German admitted, also acknowledging that announcing his departure lifted a burden off his shoulders. “We have a big goal in mind and we want to achieve it together. For that, we need every one of our incredible fans,” he added.

A final rematch like 2013 could be on the horizon

Borussia Dortmund's recent triumph over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semifinals sets the stage for a possible repeat of the 2013 'Der Klassiker' in the finals. The setting and the context would be identical: Wembley Stadium in London, the battleground of the Champions League final.

Back in 2013, Dortmund's journey to London included victories over Ajax, Manchester City, and Real Madrid leading up to the knockout stages. In the round of 16, they ousted Shakhtar Donetsk. The quarterfinals saw them benefit from another team's elimination of Málaga, and in the semifinals, they faced Real Madrid again, a titan of European football, which succumbed to a four-goal spectacle by Robert Lewandowski.

The 2013 final was intensely competitive from the start. Under the leadership of then-coach Jürgen Klopp, Dortmund unleashed a high-energy game that initially caught their rivals off guard. They created numerous scoring opportunities but struggled to find the back of the net. As the match progressed, Bayern Munich began to dominate, finally displaying their typical style of play. Both teams had chances, but the goalkeepers, Weidenfeller for Dortmund and Neuer for Bayern, were in top form until Mario Mandzukic broke the deadlock an hour into the game, finishing off a play involving Ribéry and Robben.

A reckless penalty given away by Dante’s aimless kick on Reus led to İlkay Gündogan leveling the score from the penalty spot. The match remained evenly poised, reflected in the scoreline, until Robben crafted a signature move, a blend of dribbling, skill, and speed , to clinch the title for Bayern in the dying moments of the game. This goal was a redeeming moment for the Dutch forward, who had previously been unlucky in finals.

The atmosphere was commendable, with fans from both sides exhibiting exemplary behavior throughout the trophy ceremony, staying in their seats to applaud the achievements of both teams and to thank their players for an outstanding season. This year's final at Wembley promises to be more than just a match for Marco Reus, especially after announcing his departure from Dortmund at the end of the season. Facing either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid would be a fitting and unique finale for the German player.