2012-13: Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich
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The first all-German final in the UEFA Champions League saw Wembley play host to two of the most exciting teams in Europe as Jurgen Klopp’s electric Borussia Dortmund side took on Jupp Heynckes’ all-conquering Bayern Munich juggernaut.
This Bayern side had already wrapped up the Bundesliga in record time and the Dortmund side had just knocked out Real Madrid in the semi-final to seal their place in the final at Wembley. This was set up to be a completely tectonic scale battle between the two sides and so it proved to be as the final was played with incredible intensity by both teams.
The match saw Borussia Dortmund completely outplay Bayern Munich in the first half hour as Jurgen Klopp’s famed Geggenpressing saw Bayern lose control completely. Manuel Neuer made as many as 5 saves in the opening 35 minutes as he effectively kept his team in the game.
However, shortly into the second half, Mario Mandzukic opened the scoring for Bayern Munich who ran rings around the Dortmund defence as the forward linked up with Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery for a flurry of exchanges.
Bayern defender, Dante then kicked Marco Reus in the stomach in his penalty box to allow Ilkay Gundogan to level things up from the spot. Yet it was to be heartbreak for this Dortmund side as a minute from normal time, Ribery found Arjen Robben with a backheel pass and the Dutch attacker poked the ball past an onrushing Roman Weidenfeller to settle what was claimed by many as the most intense final played in the competition.
