UEFA Champions League 2012/2013

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'Dortmund are facing the best Bayern team of modern times' - Riedle

May 23, 2013 9:00:00 AM

The former BVB star believes the Bavarians are clear favourites for the Champions League final but hopes his old side can upset the odds

EXCLUSIVE
By John Hynes

Borussia Dortmund legend Karl-Heinz Riedle believes that his old side will be facing the best Bayern Munich team he has ever seen in the Champions League final on Saturday.

Wembley will host the all-German showpiece in Europe's premier club competition, and the treble-chasing Bavarians go into the game as strong favourites after strolling to the Bundesliga title with a record points tally before dismantling Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals.

Riedle feels that Jupp Heynckes' Bayern have surpassed even the great side of the 1970s, when legends such as Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller and Sepp Maier were the stars of the team.

"By far, I think this is the best Bayern team I've seen," Riedle told Goal.

"They're probably the best since Beckenbauer played for them and they won the European Cup three years in a row in the 70s.

"They were confident about defeating Barca. Now they'll be even more confident going into the final."

Champions | Bayern have a chance to win an historic treble

Former Germany star Riedle was Dortmund's hero when they won the Champions League in 1997, scoring twice in a 3-1 final win over Juventus in Munich, and the 47-year-old believes his former club can upset the odds again this year.

"For many people, Borussia won't be favourites but nobody expected us to win it in 1997," the World Cup winner explained.

"Progressing to the final has been a massive step for Dortmund. After the team I was in won the European Cup they had a few difficult years with some financial problems.

"Now they are enjoying a good period even if they have not won the league this season. The way they play seems ideal for European football.

"The group they were in before Christmas - with Real Madrid, Ajax and Manchester City - looked like it was going to be very tough. Instead, most teams have struggled to cope with them."

BVB secured their passage to the semi-finals of the competition by scoring twice in stoppage time to defeat Malaga 3-2 on aggregate in the last eight and Riedle is still amazed by their miraculous comeback.

"It was a wonder... a miracle. I was watching and didn't believe they could do it. To score twice late on was quite lucky. But overall, if you looked at both legs, you would agree that Dortmund were the better team."

The 47-year-old went on to hail the quality in Jurgen Klopp's squad, and paid tribute to the coach himself.

"They have so much talent all over the pitch. The best two players are Marco Reus and Mario Gotze. Robert Lewandowski is in brilliant form and Mats Hummels is an impressive defender too.

"They're a young team, but they have already gained a lot of experience.

"Klopp is a top guy. He gets the most out of his team and is the right person to help all of the young players reach their potential. He wants them to play in a certain way and so far it has proved very successful."

It was confirmed at the end of April that Gotze will join Bayern this summer in a €37 million deal, and Riedle believes further high-profile exits from Signal Iduna Park are inevitable.

"Offers will come, that is certain. I was older when I left, 31 nearly 32. Playing in England was always a dream for me," he added, referring to his four years at Liverpool and Fulham.

"Maybe the younger Dortmund players should stay for another year or two as that time will help them develop and grow."

During a glittering career, which also saw him excel in Serie A for Lazio, Riedle won three Bundesliga titles, a Champions League and a World Cup.

 

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Europa League winners to get Champions League spot from 2015

May 24, 2013 11:01:00 AM

The governing body has confirmed that the winner of Europe's second competition will be rewarded with a place among the continent's finest

Uefa has announced that the winner of the Europa League will be rewarded with a place in the Champions League the following season from 2015.

The winner of the 2014-15 edition of the competition will be the first team to take advantage of the change as they will enter the 2015-16 Champions League following the decision.

The governing body had long been looking for ways to make the Europa League more attractive and they are confident that awarding the winner a ticket for the top competition will prompt teams to take the tournament more seriously.

"We must do something to improve the Europa League and one way is to have a sporting incentive for the Europa League to qualify for the Champions League," Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino said.

"The new cycle will begin in 2015."

The Europa League has existed in its current format since 2009-10, with Atletico Madrid, Porto, with Diego Simeone's side claiming a second title in 2012 and Chelsea winning this season's edition.

 

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UEFA Champions League Preview: Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich

23 May 2013

Germany international Ilkay Gundogan will be vital to Borussia Dortmund's hopes in the UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

Bayern are widely considered the favourites for Saturday's all-German showdown at Wembley Stadium, especially since the Bavarian club destroyed Barcelona 7-0 in their two-legged semi-final.

Up against Barcelona's vaunted midfield of Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, Bayern's central-midfield duo, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez, were far too strong and provided a solid foundation for the German club's impressive triumph.

Dortmund and Bayern are expected to play similar 4-2-3-1 formations at London's showpiece stadium, which will make the midfield battle crucial as neither side will have an obvious advantage tactically.

Up against Schweinsteiger and Martinez, who combine impressive physical capabilities with accurate passing, Dortmund will need Gundogan to be at the top of his game if they are to ensure Bayern lose their third UEFA Champions League final in four seasons.

Gundogan, who will most-likely start alongside Sven Bender at the base of Dortmund's midfield, is rated by Borussia's head coach Juergen Klopp as one of the best passers in his team.

"We got him (in May 2011) and he has turned into a real strategist," Klopp told UEFA.com.

"It is extraordinary. Not many players can do that.

"Many players can play in a small space, play fast and do a lot of great things but to have such vision, such a passing game, such an eye for the situation, is extraordinary and makes him an extraordinary player."

Bayern head coach Jupp Heynckes should be confident his team can overcome Dortmund in the English capital as they have had the better of Klopp's men throughout the season.

Since last season's German Cup final, when Dortmund beat Bayern 5-2, Heynckes' side have won two of four meetings with the Westfalenstadion club, with the other two matches ending in a stalemate as the Bavarians clinched the Bundesliga title by 25 points.

Dortmund hosted Bayern earlier this month in the Bundesliga with Kevin Grosskreutz and Mario Gomez scoring in a 1-1 draw as both coaches gave some of their key players a rest.

In a huge blow for Dortmund, attacking midfielder Mario Goetze, who will join Bayern next season, has been ruled out of the final with a hamstring injury he suffered in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid.

 

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Robben: Bayern have learned from Champions League failure
The Dutch winger feels his side have strengthened superbly over the past year, but has warned of the quality possessed by Saturday's opponents Borussia Dortmund

Dante revels in Bayern-Dortmund rivalry
The Brazilian believes recent battles between the sides will make for a classic encounter on Saturday as the Bavarians look to ease the pain of last season's final defeat

'Champions League failure would've been a disaster for Milan' - Gandini
The AC Milan director has expressed his concern at the financial implications should teams not manage to qualify for Europe's premier club competition

‘If anyone can improve this Bayern side it’s Guardiola’ - Ballack
The former Bavarians midfielder is of the opinion that ex-Barcelona coach can step into Jupp Heynckes' shoes and make the Champions League finalists even better

Heynckes: It's my last chance to win the Champions League
The Bayern Munich boss has brought the club to the edge of an unprecedented treble this season and he believes - if they play as a team - they will beat Borussia Dortmund

Lahm 'certain' Bayern will keep reaching Champions League final
The Bavarians' skipper believes that the club have taken huge strides forward this season, and his team-mate Thomas Muller thinks his experience in the showpiece will be helpful

Hargreaves expects Bayern Munich to 'steamroller everything' in coming years
The former England midfielder tips his old club to begin a period of dominance in European football, praising their infrastructure and warning that only complacency can stop them

Bayern & Dortmund the best teams throughout the Champions League, says Gary Neville
The former Manchester United defender is eagerly anticipating Saturday's match and feels the German sides deserve their place in the final

Gundogan: We are not just athletes
BVB's tireless running on the pitch have seen them reach the Champions League final but the Germany midfielder insists their ability is also vital

Rummenigge: Bayern not arrogant ahead of Champions League final
The club chairman has made it clear that the Bavarians will not underestimate Dortmund ahead of this weekend's showpiece at Wembley

Grosskreutz: BVB beat Bayern without Gotze before
The energetic winger has admitted that the youngster's absence is a blow, but is still confident that BVB can emerge victorious in Saturday's clash

Makaay: Bayern will do it this time
The Dutchman has backed the Bavarians to win the Champions League at last this term and thinks they can cope with the pressure

 

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Sousa: Gotze and Lewy exits will derail Dortmund

May 24, 2013 12:00:00 PM

EXCLUSIVE: Double Champions League winner Paulo Sousa tells Goal his former club will struggle to fill the void left by the impending departures of two marquee players

EXCLUSIVE
By Peter Staunton

Paulo Sousa, a Champions League winner with Borussia Dortmund, fears that Saturday's final against Bayern Munich may be the last time Jurgen Klopp's side take the European stage in the near future.

Mario Gotze, who misses the Wembley final through injury, has already agreed to join Bayern after they met the release clause stipulated in his contract while Robert Lewandowski's future remains up for discussion.

Should Dortmund end up losing both, Sousa believes that his former club would struggle to remain competitive.

"It's difficult to take another step when you lose two important players," he told Goal. "If you lose the second one, Lewandowski, because Gotze is practically gone, it will be important to reduce expectations and to build it up again because they are two important pieces of the puzzle."

The impending transfer of Gotze for a fee of €37 million has created friction between the two clubs. The two-time Champions League winner understands Dortmund fan antipathy towards the 20-year-old but underlines the importance of player sales in the Dortmund strategy.

"For them it's like they feel the player doesn't have respect for them," he said. "But I think the ones that love the club have already passed different difficult moments and they will always back the club.

"After we won the Champions League in '97, and all the economical problems that followed, the fans were always very close to the club and helped support the club to progress."

Dortmund under Klopp have claimed two Bundesliga titles as well as DFB-Pokal success and Sousa believes the psychological tools used by the coach have been key to their revival on the continental scene.

"He is someone who inspires everyone around him; someone really ambitious," he said. "He motivates a lot because he, and Michael Zorc the football director who won the Champions League with me in '97, are people who planned to achieve the possibility to win the Champions League again."

Despite going into the tie as underdogs, Sousa thinks that the occasion could inspire Dortmund to win the title against the odds like they did against his former club Juventus in 1997.

"History, we make ourselves," he said. "I think this team is quite strong. It has lots of quality in all the sectors of the pitch. They could write a new page of the history of football and the history of Dortmund."

 

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'Dortmund don't stand a chance without playing well' - Klopp

By Miles Chambers
May 24, 2013 11:04:00 PM

The BVB coach believes his players have the ability to beat Bayern in the Champions League final but dismissed the idea of German football being ahead of the rest of Europe

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has demanded his side excel against Bayern Munich and warned that a performance that is not up to scratch will see them defeated in Saturday's Champions League final.

The Schwarzgelben are underdogs against their fellow German opposition in the battle to be crowned continental kings, but the BVB trainer is adamant the Ruhr side can enjoy a fairytale end to the season if they try their hardest at Wembley.

He told reporters at a press conference on Friday: "This team's been growing over the last five years, and we think this could only have been done in this club. Maybe that's why things are a bit more emotional for us.

"People have climbed Mount Everest before and had to turn around 10 metres from the top, but at least they've tried. And we've tried too.

"To be prepared for the details, you have to do the big things right. It is two strong teams playing against each other and the whole world will watch this.

"We have to play really well, otherwise we don’t stand a chance. We have to try our utmost; we only have this one chance."

The Champions League final bout between the Bundesliga giants has seen debate rise over which league is the strongest in Europe and Klopp believes Germany have caught up with other countries but dismissed ideas of Bundesliga dominance.

"We do intend to carry on advancing. Whether German football has improved compared to others, I don't know," he continued.

"It's not that German football is completely dominant - maybe we've caught up a bit. We will try again and again to get into the final, but whether we will manage it I don't know."

 

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Klinsmann loves Dortmund's enthusiasm under Klopp

By Will Jones
May 24, 2013 3:54:00 PM

The United States coach has revealed what he thinks are BVB's best traits whilst tipping his old team, Bayern Munich, to win the Champions League on Saturday

Jurgen Klinsmann has spoken of his admiration for Borussian Dortmund under Jurgen Klopp ahead of the Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

The current United States trainer, who has played for and coached at Bayern, is confident his old team can end their European disappointment but praised the Schwarzgelben attitude and quality at high pace.

"The enthusiasm!" the ex-Germany international told Spox, when asked what he admires the most about Dortmund under Klopp.

"The enthusiasm, the pace and conviction. Dortmund has some players who are technically superior to their competition and can play at the highest speed."

"Klopp became a German champion with Borussia Dortmund and is now in the Champions League final - for me he has already arrived at the highest level. You must be a good coach when you build something great like Dortmund."

When asked to make his prediction for the final at Wembley on Saturday, Klinsmann admitted that it has been an unpredictable competition this year but feels that his former club will triumph on the night.

"It is a single game, in which many uncertainties may happen and somehow those uncertainties would fit well with the course of the Champions League season. But based on the experience of recent years, the favourite in this final is Bayern Munich."

The German coach currently has the task of helping the US qualify for World Cup 2014 after parting company with the Bavarian club in 2009.

 

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Zidane hails 'great' Schweinsteiger ahead of Champions League final

By Miles Chambers
May 25, 2013 9:20:00 AM

The France legend picked out the midfielder as the man to watch on Saturday, but warned of the threat posed by underdogs Borussia Dortmund having lost to them in the 1997 final

European football legend Zinedine Zidane believes Bastian Schweinsteiger will be crucial to Bayern Munich's Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund.

The former Real Madrid and Juventus midfielder feels the Germany international is the standout player as the German giants prepare to go head-to-head at Wembley on Saturday.

"Schweinsteiger's [my favourite]," he told Bild. "A hard-to-pronounce name - but a very great player for me!"

Zidane was in the Juventus side tha lost to Dortmund in the 1997 Champions League final, when the Bundesliga side triumphed 3-1, and he is well aware of the threat that BVB pose as the underdogs in the game.

"Borussia Dortmund at the time hadn't had a great season and the team was getting older, guys like [Jurgen] Kohler and [Andreas] Moller, but they were still great and deservedly won," he said of the '97 final.

"That shows a lot can happen in one match. A final is just one match. A lot of people make Bayern Munich favourites but I will always remember my first final and how we lost despite being hot favourites to win. That was against Dortmund, too.

"This year, just like Bayern, BVB have a great mix of young and experienced players. All are perfectly trained and have strong technique. Both teams have continuously shown the best football in Europe. Both German sides deserve to be in this final."

The European final between Bayern and Dortmund kicks off at 20:45CET on Saturday.

 

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Van der Sar: Robben tips final in Bayern's favour

By Miles Chambers
May 25, 2013 10:43:00 AM

Despite praising Borussia Dortmund, the former Manchester United keeper is backing his compatriot's side while his Ajax colleague Frank de Boer shared a similar sentiment

Edwin van der Sar believes that Arjen Robben's presence in attack for Bayern Munich team gives the Bundesliga champions the advantage heading into the Champions League final.

Wembley will host the all-German clash on Saturday between the Bavarians and Borussia Dortmund, and the former Manchester United goalkeeper thinks his compatriot tips the scales in favour of Jupp Heynckes' side.

"Bayern Munich, with Arjen Robben on their side, are favourites for the final in my eyes," the ex-Netherlands international, who is now the marketing director for Ajax, said in his column in De Telegraaf.

"The entire team, I think, is stronger than that of Dortmund, even if you do not know what [Robert] Lewandowski will bring to the contest. That striker has made a big impression on me this season."

Despite lagging 25 points behind Bayern in the final Bundesliga standings, Van der Sar believes that BVB have come on in leaps and bounds this year and deserve praise for their run to Wembley, having beaten out Real Madrid, Malaga, Shakhtar Donetsk, Ajax and Manchester City en route.

"The whole Dortmund team have made excellent progress this season," he added. "I have said before that the club have set the perfect example in Europe."

Ajax coach Frank de Boer shared a similar sentiment to his colleague at the Amsterdam ArenA and, despite his affection for Dortmund and BVB boss Jurgen Klopp in particular, he is rooting for Robben and Co.

"I hope that Bayern Munich win the Champions League," he told NOS, "but if Arjen Robben didn't play for Bayern, I would support Dortmund.

"Klopp is a friend of mine but I'm also patriotic and I'd rather a Dutch player win the prize. I hope Arjen plays, he's in a good shape and it looks like he'll start."

The Champions League final gets under way at 20:45CET on Saturday.

 

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Carragher: Dortmund are like Liverpool in 2005

By Matt Davis
May 25, 2013 11:39:00 AM

The retired defender believes that Jurgen Klopp's side can capitalise on Bayern Munich's expectations, using the Reds' Champions League final in Istanbul as their inspiration

Jamie Carragher believes that Borussia Dortmund could emulate Liverpool's Champions League success from 2005 by winning the trophy as underdogs.

The former Liverpool defender helped his side claw their way back from a 3-0 half-time deficit against Milan eight years ago to lift the trophy after winning a penalty shoot-out, and Carragher believes that the underdogs could also be crowned European Champions on Saturday evening.

He wrote in his Daily Mail column: "This could be one of the closest finals we have seen in recent years and Dortmund are not the 7-2 shots that bookmakers suggest. If anything, Bayern will be the more apprehensive of the two sides. They, after all, have everything to lose. Dortmund have it all to gain.

"Dortmund are in a similar position to the one we experienced with Liverpool on this day exactly eight years ago. Nobody gave us a chance of beating AC Milan in Istanbul, so that meant we could enjoy the occasion. Winning the biggest trophy in club football went beyond our wildest dreams.

"Bayern, in contrast, will in some ways be dreading this match as the pressure on them is immense.

"Bayern Munich are THE club in Germany and to lose the prize they crave most to a team from their own country would be a savage blow to their esteem."

 

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Lewandowski: Ronaldo can keep his golden boot, I want the trophy!

By Miles Chambers
May 25, 2013 11:51:00 AM

The Poland striker prefers team glory to individual adulation and is refusing to discuss his future beyond the end of the season until after Saturday's Champions League final

Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski has said that Cristiano Ronaldo can keep this season's Champions League golden boot as his sole focus is to get his hands on the trophy with a victory on Saturday.

The Poland international, who has been linked with a move to BVB's opponents at Wembley Bayern Munich this summer, is on 10 goals for the current campaign and a hat-trick would see him move above the Real Madrid forward, who is on 12.

"I know that, but to lift the Champions League I do not care who scores the goals," he told Tuttosport. "I've scored 10 in this tournament, two fewer than Ronaldo - I'll willingly let him have the top scorer [to lift the trophy instead]."

Lewandowski's performances in the past couple of seasons have caught the attention of a host of Europe's top clubs and he is believed to be manoeuvring for a departure from Signal Iduna Park, though he declined to discuss a transfer with the cup final around the corner.

"The Champions League is a trophy too important, I'll sort out the rest of my career after it," he added. "Now I only have the final in mind.

"For me, the transfer is not an issue: I do not know where I will play next season, I hear talk of Bayern and Real Madrid, but I swear I am concentrating on Borussia, with whom I still have a contract, and the final at Wembley.

"For the future we must wait a little longer - at the end of the season everything will be clear."

Lewandowski is expected to lead Jurgen Klopp's line at Wembley against the Bavarians, with kick-off at 20:45CET.

 

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Be warned that this is a poll from Goal readers.

Goal readers predict Dortmund will win Champions League

May 25, 2013 12:00:00 PM

Over half of the votes were in favour of BVB to triumph over Bayern in Saturday's final at Wembley, while confidence in the Bavarians' penalty-taking abilities is low

Goal readers have voted Borussia Dortmund as marginal favourites over Bayern Munich to win the Champions League final, with 55 per cent backing BVB to triumph on Saturday at Wembley.

As of 11:30CET on Saturday, 1453 votes were cast on our Facebook page, with 800 voting in favour of the Schwarzgelben - 690 of which believe Jurgen Klopp's men will win in 90 minutes.

A healthy 595 people believe that Bayern can secure victory before extra time, ensuring they do not make it three Champions League final losses in four seasons.

One hundred and one people are of the opinion that the all-German showpiece will be secured in extra time - a majority of 58 tipping the underdogs to succeed over the new Bundesliga champions.

Whereas the vote remained reletaively close in open play, readers are far less confident in Bayern if the game were to go into a penalty shoot-out, possibly due to Chelsea's conquering of the Bavarians in the format 12 months ago. Indeed, just over 77 per cent of readers believe that BVB will beat Jupp Heynckes' side in the event of a spot-kick showdown.

 

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Rummenigge warns Bayern to avoid arrogance

By Miles Chambers
May 25, 2013 2:37:00 PM

The Allianz Arena CEO says his side need to put in a good performance while fellow Bavarians legends Lothar Matthaus is excited for the "spicy" all-German showpiece at Wembley

Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has warned his players to avoid arrogance ahead of the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.

The Bavarians demolished Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals having dismantled Serie A champions Juventus in the last eight 4-0 over two legs to be situated as favourites prior to the clash.

Domestically, die Roten also dominated - winning the Bundesliga by 25 points - but Rummenigge has said to his players that victory can only be guaranteed with a solid performance at Wembley.

The 57-year-old told reporters on Friday at Munich Airport: "It's a final. We must be neither arrogant nor cocky. We will need to have a good day and must play as we have in the last few months.

"We are desperate to win the trophy. Last year, an English team in Munich - now I hope that a Munich team can win in England."

Another iconic former Bayern star, Lothar Matthaus, believes the all-German aspect of the Wembley clash adds an extra element of excitement to the game and is predicting victory for Jupp Heynckes in his penultimate game as die Roten coach.

"We are very very happy to have two [German] teams in this final. We are proud of Bayern and Dortmund," he said to Sky Sports News on Saturday. "I hope first they are fully concentrated on the football. I hope they celebrate a great football game today - the fair play way, with high quality football.

"I wish [victory] to Bayern - sure they lost 2010 to Inter in Madrid, and last year in the final [to Chelsea] but I think that they will learn from the last two finals. They are favourites.

"Bayern played a great season, dominated Barca in the semi-finals. But it's the Champions League final. Playing against Borussia Dortmund will make it a bit more spicy.

"Franck Ribery is the main [threat], though Thomas Muller has played a fantastic season. He was playing a little bit below par but now he's played a brilliant season. I predict one of these two players will score the winning goal.

"[Heynckes] was my first coach at Borussia Monchengladbach, way back in 1979. I wish him all the luck this year."

 

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TEAM NEWS: Mandzukic preferred to Gomez for Champions League final clash

Borussia Dortmund (4-2-3-1): Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer; Gundogan, Bender; Blaszczykowski, Reus, Grosskreutz; Lewandowski

Subs: Langerak, Kirch, Santana, Kehl, Leitner, Sahin, Schieber

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Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Dante, Alaba; Martinez, Schweinsteiger; Robben, Müller, Ribery; Mandzukic.

Subs: Starke, Van Buyten, Shaqiri, Luiz Gustavo, Tymoshchuk, Pizarro, Gomez

 

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We will be back next year!


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Bayern Munich 2 Borussia Dortmund 1: Robben banishes pain of 2012 as German champions claim fifth European title

By ROB DRAPER PUBLISHED: 20:38 GMT, 25 May 2013 | UPDATED: 00:46 GMT, 26 May 2013
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‘It’s coming home, it’s coming home,’ chanted the Bayern Munich fans as they waited for their team to mount Wembley’s steps and claim their European crown. Shortly after their captain, Philipp Lahm, would hold that famous old trophy aloft, a cathartic moment for a club scarred by defeat in the previous two Champions League finals. And, as he did, the memory of that sad old song, now regularly appropriated by celebrating Germans, lingered, haunting the natives. Long have we been used to the German national team’s supremacy. Now their club teams are surpassing ours as well.Last night at our brash, modern national stadium, Bayern and Dortmund delivered perhaps the finest final since Wembley reopened. Two years ago Barcelona staged a spectacular exhibition here but as a contest, this had at it all.

Top of the pile: Bayern Munich are the Champions of Europe for a fifth time after beating Borussia Dortmund

Top of the pile: Bayern Munich are the Champions of Europe for a fifth time after beating Borussia Dortmund

MATCH FACTS

Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller, Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer, Bender (Sahin 90+1), Gundogan, Blaszczykowski (Schieber 90+1), Reus, Grosskreutz, Lewandowski.Subs not used: Langerak, Kehl, Leitner, Kirch, Felipe Santana.
Booked: Grosskreutz
Goals: Gundogan 67 (pen).

Bayern Munich: Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Dante, Alaba, Javi Martinez, Schweinsteiger, Robben, Muller, Ribery (Gustavo 90+1), Mandzukic (Gomez 90+4). Subs not used: Starke, Van Buyten, Shaqiri, Pizarro, Tymoschuk.
Booked: Date, Ribery
Goals: Mandzukic 60, Robben 89.

Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)

All around there were German lessons to absorb, from coaching development across the generations to the number of superb young German players developed through their federation’s emphasis on youth. Their clubs are owned by fans who seem to share a genuine bond with their team and it was all on show at our £750million stadium. We do the money so well in English football; shame about the substance. At least we might claim something. The winning goal, scored in the 89th minute, was straight out of England: a hopeful long ball, dreadful confusion in defence as Franck Ribery back heeled and former Chelsea player Arjen Robben seized the loose ball to sway past two challenges and slip the ball past Roman Weidenfeller to end Bayern’s status as serial losers. Robben stood and screamed at his own fans — a man who had missed a penalty that might have won the game in extra time last year. Some hurts were being healed.

Big chances: The first-half was the tale of two goalkeepers with Roman Weidenfeller denying Arjen Robben twice, and Munich stopper Manuel Neuer keeping Robert Lewandowski out

‘To hear the whistle at the end of a Champions League final and to know we had won was perhaps they only thing we needed in our lives,’ said Robben. ‘And when we got there, after all that disappointment last year and in 2010, at last we had done it. And I had lost the World Cup final as well – that’s three finals and you don’t want the stamp of a loser.’It was not quite the romantic result. Bayern are a financial juggernaut, with almost three times the income of their opponents. They take what they don’t have: Mario Goetze, Dortmund’s young star, was injured last night but will join Bayern this summer. Their outstanding striker, Robert Lewandowski, is likely to follow.

The pathos of the charismatic Jurgen Klopp leading his defeated heroes on a sad walkabout, greeted by a standing ovation and an overwhelming gratitude, was remarkable. ‘Everything we have done this season was brilliant,’ said Klopp. ‘The atmosphere in the stadium was brilliant, we enjoyed being in this Olympic town, the weather was great: only the result was s**t.’ Equally, it is hard not to feel a sense of elation for Jupp Heynckes, the 68-year-old Bayern coaching doyen.

Controversy: Franck Ribery escaped punishment when his flailing arm caught Lewandowski in the face

Once before he won this trophy, in 1998, with Real Madrid, and he lost his job. Next weekend he could win the Treble but again he will leave, replaced by the eminently more fashionable Pep Guardiola, though this time at his own behest. Still, it was some finale to win the club’s fifth European Cup.The sheer energy of Dortmund was overwhelming — chances for Lewandowski, Jakub Blaszczykowski, Marco Reus and Sven Bender came and went — yet it couldn’t last. Eventually Bayern established a hold, Javier Martinez and Bastian Schweinsteiger recovering their poise in midfield. Weidenfeller got a great hand to Mario Mandzukic’s header after 27 minutes, and then his fingers to a Robben strike three minutes later, when the Dutchman should have scored.Thomas Muller then glanced a header wide before Robben got the better of Mats Hummels and, from eight yards out, prodded a shot that only Weidenfeller’s jutting jaw could block. It was quite breathless, exhilarating stuff and on the hour Bayern struck. Ribery charged down the left and fed Robben, who headed for the byeline, pulled back a cross and there, at close range, was Mandzukic to direct it in.

Breakthrough: Robben finally wriggled free to set up Mario Mandzukic for the opener in the second half

Dortmund had to respond. Klopp urged them forward and on 67 minutes their moment came. Needlessly Dante, who had previously been booked, lifted his foot and kicked Reus in the stomach. The excellent Gundogan accepted responsibility for the spot kick, directing it firmly to his right to equalise. Muller, in full flow, rounded Weidenfeller and, with an open goal but a narrow angle, rolled the ball goal-wards. Neven Subotic raced backwards and hooked it away as Robben decided not to dive in.Still, Dortmund’s resistance was coming to an end. They survived until that 88th minute before their surrender. They could remain proud, though, as could the nation that provided the finalists.

Spot on: Dante smashed into Marco Reus to give Ilkay Gundogan the chance to level with a penalty

Winner: Robben skipped through a clutch of players before rolling the ball home and settling the match

Awash with colour: Fans - famous ones included - created a stunning atmosphere inside Wembley... and the entertainment before the match and at half-time was pretty special, too

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