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Main » 2013 » May » 26 » Champions League: Borussia Dortmund 1:2 Bayern Munich - Commentary

Champions League: Borussia Dortmund 1:2 Bayern Munich - Commentary

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OFFICIAL COMMENTARY
dortmund Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Bayern Munich bayern


This match was hyped up to extraordinary levels, but it more than matched the expectations as Bayern Munich dramatically secured the Champions League trophy that they will feel has been overdue for some time. They started the slower of the two, as Borussia Dortmund dominated the opening half-hour, and missed glorious chances through Reus, Lewandowski and Blaszczykowski. However, as the first half wore on, Jupp Heynckes' side started to impose themselves more and more, and could easily have gone ahead as Robben and Mandzukic were superby denied by Weidenfeller. The second 45 minutes started slowly, but it soon reached drama levels of the highest order, as a Mario Mandzukic tap-in was quickly nullified by Ilkay Gundogan's penalty kick. But the final word was saved for the indefatigable Arjen Robben, who coolly evaded the attentions of Subotic and Hummels, and put the ball into the bottom corner in the 90th minute. Bayern will feel they deserved it, while Borussia will have to nurse some serious wounds. This is the beauty of the Champions League, though, and we saw it in all its glory tonight.

start match 90'BAYERN MUNICH WIN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Most of the Munich players fall to the floor and look to the heavens in celebration as Nicola Rizzoli blows the full time whistle. The Dortmund players look exasperated and dejected as their efforts go without reward. What a final!

90'THREE ADDED MINUTES
There will be three additional minutes at Wembley, and two of them have already passed. The script has been written for Arjen Robben, and he has followed it to the letter. Borussia Dortmund look desperate as they try to launch the ball into the Bayern area, but the game looks to be up for Jurgen Klopp and his men.

90'BORUSSIA DORTMUND 1-2 BAYERN MUNICH
He suffered heartache last year, but it looks for all the world as though Arjen Robben has won it for Munich! He gets on the end of a forward ball, neatly takes the ball around Subotic and Hummels, and scuffs his effort past Weidenfeller and into the bottom corner. It wasn't a great finish, but I strongly suspect Robben won't care a single jot!

89'GOOOAAALLL!!!
Unbelievable scenes! Arjen Robben has surely won it for Bayern Munich! They lead with just a minute left on the clock!

87'CONSERVING ENERGY
If you are a believer in omens, you might be interested to know that both Bundesliga matches between these two this season ended 1-1. Penalties? It looks like Dortmund are saving themselves for extra time here - they are happy with what they've got, but their opponents are hungry for some late drama.

85'TIME FOR A WINNER?
Crazy as it sounds, there are only five minutes plus stoppage time left in this one - this second half has flown by hasn't it? Extra time is looming large, but Bayern are the team looking far the more likely at the moment.

82'ALL BAYERN
Munich are piling on the pressure in these last ten minutes, but Dortmund are dealing well with everything that is thrown at them. The way this match is heading, another 30 minutes of this sounds like an absolute treat.

78'MUNICH TURNING THE SCREW
Jupp Heynckes' men are really starting to up the ante here. David Alaba's fierce drive is well stopped by Weidenfeller on the stretch, before Thomas Muller tries to square the ball for Mandzukic for an open goal, but he overhits it, and the angle is too tight. Subotic did pull the attacker back there, and may have been a tad lucky to not get punished.

76'DISALLOWED GOAL
That would have been outrageous from Lewandowski, but the whistle blows for handball as he takes a long ball down, swivels, and smashes a volley from outside the area over Neuer and into the net. In the history of disallowed goals, that one might just be the best. Think Thierry Henry vs. Man Utd - it was that good.

73'UNBELIEVABLE CLEARANCE
You simply can't catch your breath at the moment! Bayern are a whisker away from re-taking the lead, as Thomas Muller displays incredible pace to beat Marcel Schmelzer to the ball. The German takes the ball round Weidenfeller and squares it for Robben, who looks set to tap it in from less than a yard out. However, Subotic hurls himself across the goal-line to somehow clear the ball. That was a Gazza Gascoigne moment for Arjen Robben.

70'BORUSSIA DORTMUND 1-1 BAYERN MUNICH
Seconds after having another penalty appeal denied, Dortmund are granted one through the stupidity of Dante. The defender kicks Reus high in the chests with his studs, and the referee has no choice but to award the spot-kick. Confusingly, another yellow card is not given, though, and Dante stays on the pitch. Regardless, Gundogan is as cool as a cucumber with shades on as he buries the penalty. Game on!

69'GOOOAAALLL!!!
Ilkay Gundogan sends Manuel Neuer the wrong way, and we're all square at Wembley! 1-1.

67'PENALTY TO DORTMUND!!!
Dante stupidly kicks Marco Reus with his studs up, and Dortmund have an instant chance to get back into this final!

65'TIME WASTING
Ribery takes the sting out of the game with some amateur dramatics, as he rolls around on the ground holding his face. Unsurprisingly, he is up on his feet in no time, and the Dortmund players look furious. They have 25 minutes to save themselves.

62'BORUSSIA DORTMUND 0-1 BAYERN MUNICH
The noise inside Wembley Stadium has just cranked up a couple of notches as Bayern take the lead. Franck Ribery finds Arjen Robben in all sorts of room in the box, as Piszczek, Subotic and Hummels are all drawn towards the Frenchman, and Robben does brilliantly to take the ball around Weidenfeller and pull it back for Mandzukic. The forward can barely miss, and he doesn't, tapping home from six yards out. Wonderful goal, but Jurgen Klopp will be bitterly disappointed with the defending.

61'GOOOAAALLL!!!
Mario Mandzukic breaks the deadlock! First blood Munich!

58'BAYERN POSSESSION
Munich are having most of the ball at the moment, and for the first time in this final, Borussia Dortmund are having to defend for a sustained period of time. Mandzukic is unfortunate as he gets on the end of a corner, but the ball is just behind him and he can't get enough purchase on it.

56'TEMPERS STARTING TO BOIL
There is no love lost between these two sides, and it is just beginning to show as a couple of late challenges are flying in, and the referee is having to deal with a lot of shouting in his ear by various players who feel they are being harshly treated. It's not making for a great second half, but it's bubbling up nicely nonetheless.

52'DROP IN INTENSITY
The second half has not started in as frenetic a way as the first period did, as both sides have yet to reach full tempo so far. A lot of the play is taking place in the middle third of the pitch at present. It won't take long for the game to open up again, though.

48'REUS LOOKING LIVELY
Marco Reus has been picking the ball up in some very dangerous positions in this match, and he is illegally stopped by a clumsy challenge from Ribery as he tries to run into space. Ribery escapes a booking for an offence that Dante got cautioned for in the first half. Reus was the man fouled then, as well.

46'BACK IN ACTION
We are underway again in the Champions League final. Let there be goals.

45'BORUSSIA DORTMUND 0-0 BAYERN MUNICH
Don't let the scoreline fool you - that first half was anything but boring, as both sides expressed themselves and created chances at will at times. In the first 25 minutes or so, Bayern Munich were nowhere to be seen, as Dortmund played some wonderful football, and worked tirelessly in the midfield areas. Marco Reus, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowski all went close for Jurgen Klopp's side, but they just couldn't make their dominance count. It wasn't too long before Munich created the best chance of the match through Mario Mandzukic, and after that they progressively began to work their way back into the half, with Arjen Robben also threatening the Dortmund goal. All in all it was a half that was shaded by the underdogs, but the second period is poised to be an absolute cracker. Join us here in a couple of minutes to see who's going to put their name on that prestigious trophy.

45'GOALLESS AT THE BREAK
That's that as far as the first half is concerned. The referee blows his whistle, and a compelling first 45 minutes comes to a halt. 0-0 at half time.

45'INADVERTANT STOP
Mats Hummels misjudges a long ball forward, and all of a sudden Arjen Robben is in on goal. He takes the ball on the volley from close range, but Roman Weidenfeller stops the ball from hitting the back of the net with his face. It's fair to say he didn't know too much about that, but it doesn't matter how you stop them, so long as you do.

42'TROUBLE FOR SCHWEINSTEIGER?
The fitness of Bastian Schweinsteiger might need to be looked at during half time, as the German seemed to be hobbling back when Dortmund counter-attacked there. He hasn't looked 100% in this first half.

40'SETTLING INTO THE GAME
After all the early Dortmund pressure, Bayern Munich are just starting to impose themselves on this final. They are certainly using the ball more effectively. This time Dante dinks a ball over the top for Muller, whose cross from the right is well collected by Weidenfeller. It's been a gripping 40 minutes of football.

37'YET MORE CHANCES
Two big opportunities in the space of a minute here, as first Lewandowski shrugs off Philipp Lahm, but his low strike is smothered by Neuer, before Muller finds Robben in space, but the winger dallies on the ball and is eventually dispossessed by Neven Subotic. He had men in the middle to pick out there, Robben.

33'NOT SHORT ON INTENSITY
You can see just what this match means to the two managers, as they are furiously gesticulating on the touchline. If it's possible, Jurgen Klopp looks even more animated than usual. I'm not a lip reader, but based on the ferocity of his body language, I can only guess he is screaming "This is Sparta!" Or something like that.

31'ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY WASTED
Is the momentum of this match beginning to turn? Bayern have a second chance in as many minutes to take the lead, as the ball fortunately runs for Robben after a mix-up in the midfield. The winger tries to dink the ball over Weidenfeller, but the Dortmund stopper was out of the blocks like Usain Bolt there. Top marks.

26'FORTUNATE TO ESCAPE A BOOKING
Clearly frustrated by the fact that his side have yet to get going, Franck Ribery throws an elbow square into the face of Lewandowski. That was all a bit unnecessary, and the Frenchman can count himself lucky not to receive a caution for that.

22'EFFORT NEEDED MORE POWER
The usually reliable Thomas Muller decides to let Sven Bender run beyond him when he should have been tracking him, and he nearly pays the ultimate price, as Bender curls in a shot from the edge of the box that brings another stop out of Neuer. Had there been a bit more juice in that strike, we could have seen the net bulging.

19'DORTMUND RAMPANT
Borussia Dortmund are utterly dominant at the moment. They threaten again on the counter-attack, as Kevin Grosskreutz picks out Marco Reus with a clever reverse ball, and Reus leaves Philipp Lahm for dead, before shooting from the edge of the area, forcing Neuer into yet another save. Jupp Heynckes will not be happy with the way this final has started for his team.

16'CRUCIAL REACTION SAVE
Dortmund are really expressing themselves here, and Munich are beginning to look a little ruffled. Piszczek receives the ball on the right-hand side, and he picks out Blaszczykowski in the middle of the area. The midfielder directs his effort on target, but Neuer makes a good save with his left leg.

13'MAKING SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING
We haven't seen him much in the opening stages, but Robert Lewandowski comes to life all of a sudden. Firstly he skips past Jerome Boateng, but is just unable to keep the ball in as he tries to pull the ball back for one of his teammates. Then he has a pop from 30 yards out that requires a sharp save from Neuer. That's why he is one of Europe's most wanted strikers.

10'FIRST ATTEMPT
Dortmund have definitely settled quicker, and they craft the first opening as they break at some speed down the right through Reus and Blaszczykowski. The latter has a dig from the angle of the area, but it is always sailing high and wide. It will be interesting to see how Munich respond, as they have been second best in these opening ten minutes.

8'STOPPED AT SOURCE
Manuel Neuer tries to get things going for the German champions as he catches a set-piece delivery and quickly launches the ball into the path of Arjen Robben. For a moment it looks as though Robben is about to escape, but Lukasz Piszczek does brilliantly to stop him in his tracks.

5'PRESSING WELL
Munich are only really being allowed to pass the ball across the back four at the moment, such is the intensity and energy of the Dortmund midfielders. Dante and Boateng have seen a lot of the ball so far, but Jurgen Klopp's men will be content to let them have it for as long as they like. Good start by the underdogs.

3'FANTASTIC ATMOSPHERE
There is one hell of a racket being made inside Wembley Stadium at the start of this match. Borussia Dortmund have started slightly the better of the two, as they are quick to close their opponents down in the middle of the pitch.

start 1'KICK-OFF
The 2013 Champions League final is underway as Bayern Munich get us started at Wembley. Strap yourselves in folks - this should be a belter.

0'MEMORABLE MOMENTS
The players walk out either side of the Champions League trophy, with THAT song being played at a Spinal Tap 11. I'm getting goosebumps and I'm not even playing - these players won't forget this night in a hurry, that's for sure. Kick-off is just moments away.....

0'PRE-MATCH THEATRICS
They're not holding back in the build-up to kick-off. From what I can see, there are soldiers playing a massive chess game on the pitch while the music blasts out. I'd love to go into more detail, but it was all rather confusing. Impressive nonetheless.

0'FULL TEAMS
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller, Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer, Bender, Gundogan, Blaszczykowski, Reus, Grosskreutz, Lewandowski. Subs: Langerak, Kehl, Leitner, Sahin, Kirch, Schieber, Felipe Santana. Bayern Munich: Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Dante, Alaba, Javi Martinez, Schweinsteiger, Robben, Muller, Ribery, Mandzukic. Subs: Starke, Van Buyten, Shaqiri, Pizarro, Gustavo, Gomez, Tymoschuk.

0'HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
These two sides have met on 26 occasions over the years, and the head to head is relatively even, with Munich just about shading it. Bayern have won eleven of those meetings, with Dortmund prevailing nine times, and the match has ended in a draw six times all in all. Will the German champions extend their lead, or will Borussia reduce the gap? If you join us right here for live text commentary of the match at 19:45 we'll find out together.....

0'HEYNCKES HITTING THE HEIGHTS WITH BAYERN
If Borussia Dortmund have been sensational this campaign, a word hasn't been invented yet to describe the dominance of Bayern Munich. The German giants won the league with a whopping six games to spare, finishing 25 points above Jurgen Klopp's men, and they have faced very little resistance in their smooth run to this year's Champions League final, such has been their level of play. Additionally, a deal has been done to take Mario Gotze – arguably Dortmund's best player – away from tonight's opponents next season, so it appears that Munich are simply going from strength to strength. If this team gets any better, though, that is a scary thought for the rest of the world. They are the favourites going into tonight's final, but two defeats in the last three years at the last stage of Europe's finest competition might just have given Jupp Heynckes' team a few mental scars. Regardless of whether nerves play a part tonight, this Bayern Munich side will be an absolute handful.

0'BORUSSIA RELISHING UNDERDOG TAG
Whenever you see Jurgen Klopp, he always seems to be smiling, and more often than not he is in jovial spirits. The reason for that looks to be quite obvious – his side have been nothing short of sensational for the whole of this campaign, as they have secured a runner-up spot in the Bundesliga, and have conquered the best that Europe has had to throw at them to progress this far. In Germany's top division they won 19 and lost just 6 of their matches as they beat the likes of Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke to second spot; impressive form indeed, and they will certainly be boosted by the fact that in their two meetings with this evening's opponents in the league, they lost neither of them. Borussia Dortmund have been every football fan's favourite underdogs this season, and many people will be backing them to defy the odds again tonight.

0'BAYERN'S BRILLIANT ROUTE TO THE FINAL
Dortmund have thwarted the giants of Ajax, Manchester City and Real Madrid, but Bayern Munich may just represent an even bigger challenge based on Jupp Heynckes' teams' run to the final. In a group containing Valencia, Lille and BATE Borisov, Munich suffered just one defeat as they comfortably progressed to the last-16, where they clinically saw off the attentions of Arsenal over two legs, despite a brave final push from the English side. Contrary to tonight's opponents, their quarter-final was as comfortable as can be, as Munich ended Juventus' 18-game unbeaten stretch with a 4-0 aggregate win. However, the best was saved for the semi-finals, where the German champions thoroughly outclassed Barcelona with a stunning 7-0 aggregate victory. Make no mistake about it – this is the best team Bayern Munich have had in years, and they are hungry for their stellar efforts to be rewarded.

0'DRAMA AND DAZZLE IN DORTMUND'S PROGRESS
Borussia Dortmund have had a bit of everything in their run through to this year's final – they have dominated teams, they have scraped through on occasions, and they have also come back from the dead at times as well. In group D, Jurgen Klopp's side were drawn to play Ajax, Manchester City and Real Madrid, and they defied expectations by going unbeaten in those six games, and finishing top of the group. Shakhtar Donetsk were swept aside in the last 16 by a 5-2 aggregate scoreline, before they broke the hearts of Malaga fans around the world by scoring two goals in injury time to dramatically secure their place in the semi-finals. Surely Jose Mourinho's Madrid would stop Dortmund in their tracks? Of course not, as a Robert Lewandowski first leg masterclass ensured that Dortmund had just enough to progress through to the final. They've been the surprise package so far, and who would bet against them going all the way?

0'MORE TO COME
There will be more pre-match chat in a couple of hours' time, and there will be live text commentary of the game right here at 19:45.

0'EARLY TEAM NEWS
Bayern-bound Mario Gotze will miss the final for Dortmund with a hamstring injury, while defender Mats Hummels is doubtful as he is struggling to recover from an ankle complaint. Aside from that Jurgen Klopp has no other injury worries ahead of tonight's showpiece. For Munich, it has been revealed that Holger Badstuber will be out for a further ten months as the defender continues to suffer with a cruciate injury. Otherwise, Jupp Heynckes can select his strongest line-up this evening.

0'REF WATCH
Nicola Rizzoli is the man who will be making all of the key decisions tonight, as the Italian officiates his fifth match of this season's Champions League. The 41-year-old has brandished 24 cards in his four previous matches in this competition, with one of them being a red. Let's hope the pressure doesn't prove too much for him and he enjoys the occasion – considering he's got the best seat in the house, I reckon he'll have an absolute ball out there.

0'THE RISE OF THE BUNDESLIGA
Cast your minds back a couple of months ago; the FIFA team of the year was made up of solely players from La Liga, and Barcelona and Real Madrid were widely considered to be the cream of the crop, the bee's knees, the top bananas in the wonderful world of football. We didn't know it back then, but the finest Germany has to offer had other ideas, as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund removed the wheels from the Spanish bandwagon in the most stylish and elegant of fashions. Barca and Real were ruthlessly dispatched at the semi-final stage, and the Champions League final will be contested by two German teams for the first time in the history of the competition. Beautiful football and ruthless efficiency – it is clear that the Bundesliga has never been in ruder health.

0'PREVIEW
Wembley Stadium – in many people's eyes it is the definitive home of English football. Year after year it is the stage for the finals of the biggest competitions in our country, such as the Capital One and FA Cups. Well, tonight we will have to sit back and watch as the top two teams in Germany face off in London, with the winner being crowned the champions of Europe. So forget patriotism and tradition tonight, I would strongly advise that you put your feet up, sort out your snacks and refreshments, and simply watch in awe as arguably the most aesthetically pleasing teams in world football go head to head this evening. Borussia Dortmund or Bayern Munich? Who will prevail is uncertain, but one thing is for sure – you won‘t want to miss this one.
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