UEFA Champions League Final: And then there were two - Bayern vs Borussia

All through the year, players and fans have shed their blood, sweat and tears in their efforts to reach the hallowed gates of Wembley. Along the way, we have witnessed some stunning comebacks and some shocking capitulations, and at the end of the journey only 2 remain. Although it can’t be termed as a David vs Goliath kind of battle, in no way can it be called a battle among equals for the Bavarians, with their superior financial muscle and squad depth, are a fair distance ahead of the Yellow brigade.

Klopp’s boys have captivated one and all with their enterprising play and are the perfect Moneyball team. They have gone through the giants of the game like a hot knife through butter and will be itching to get their hands on the coveted trophy. However, with Wunderkind Gotze ruled out due to injury, they will have a tough time breaking down the clockwork like defence of the Bavarians, for his effervescent partnership with Lewandowski was the engine powering their attack.

The return of Hummels will definitely be a big boost to the defence as his fantastic positional sense and man marking ability will be vital when dealing with the ‘Robbery’ duo and Muller. While Reus and Kuba are sure to give lung-bursting runs down the wings, the man to watch out for will be Ilkay Gundogan. With Gotze ruled out, it’s now up to Gundogan to propel the attack while also tracking backing to cover the defence. His workload is bound to increase manifold and it is to be seen whether he can rise to the occasion.

The men in red on the other hand will be going into this game on a high after clinching the Bundesliga in emphatic fashion and handing out a 7-0 drubbing (over 2 legs) to the charismatic Catalans. The players will definitely be looking forward to the game and the fierce rivalry between the two teams elevates the importance of this match to a whole new level.

Bayern have a well balanced squad and are favourites to lift the trophy. Schweinsteiger and Martinez are the backbone of the team and they orchestrate the play with grandeur and class. Down the wings, they have two mavericks in Robben and Ribery, who can single handedly turn the game on its head. Muller too has been in fantastic form and his link up play with the frontline will be a delight to watch. In defence, Bayern are as solid as a rock with Dante and Boateng forming a solid partnership down the middle and the ever reliable Lahm on the wing. Between the sticks, Neur has been in fine form and he can be relied upon even if the defence has a momentary lapse.

Overall, it promises to be one hell of a contest and Dortmund are sure to get a lot of support from their legion of loyal fans. Bayern on their part will be hoping to get third time lucky and bag the bragging rights. It’ll be a match that’ll be remembered for years to come. Play ball!