UEFA Champions League Final Preview

Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund

May 25^th, 2:45 PM EST

The world’s premier soccer tournament comes to a close this weekend, with two Bundesliga squads squaring off for the cup at the famed Wembley Stadium in London.  While the World Cup is more recognizable among the general public, the UEFA Champions League has long been known as the superior tournament to followers of the game because it consists solely of the top professional teams from each country in Europe that empty their coffers to fill their squads with superstars.  Though this year’s final does not produce the juicy Real Madrid vs. Barcelona matchup that everyone had hoped for, it will no doubt be an exciting match pitting the two best teams of the tournament against one another. Notably, this is only the fourth occasion that clubs from the same country have squared off in the final, the last time coming in 2008 when Manchester United and Chelsea went to penalties in Russia. 

How We Got Here:

In the semifinals of the tournament, Dortmund faced off against Real Madrid while Bayern was matched against Barcelona.  Both were heavy underdogs before the two-legged semifinals began, and soccer fans around the world dreamed of seeing an all-Spanish final that would include the likes of Ronaldo, Messi, and the antics of Jose Mourinho.  Dortmund and Bayern had other ideas though, as both were able to overcome the Spanish giants over the two legs.  On aggregate, Dortmund narrowly triumphed over Madrid 4-3, while Bayern wiped the floor with Barcelona in a commanding 7-0 showing over the two legs.

What to Expect:

Both being from the Bundesliga, Dortmund and Bayern have already played four matches against one another this year.  The two league matches ended in 1-1 stalemates, while the two cup matches the squads played saw Bayern come away the victor by a goal in both.  Additionally, Bayern won the Bundesliga by an astounding margin this year, beating out runner-up Dortmund by a whopping 25 points.  All of this has led bookmakers to make Bayern a heavy favorite to lift the trophy in London.

Outside of the previous matches played this season, Bayern has some other off-the-pitch factors working in its favor.  Just this week, Dortmund player Mario Gotze (who will become a Bayern player this summer) was ruled out of the final with a hamstring injury.  The attacking midfielder scored 19 goals this season, and his talents will surely be missed by his teammates in this massive final.  Furthermore, Bayern are not in uncharted territory as this is the second year in a row they will be playing in the final, and the club will have extra motivation to avoid losing the cup for a second straight year. 

On the field, expect to see some differences in how these two teams approach the game. Bayern's quality throughout the squad should allow it to win the possession battle and dictate the pace at which the game is played.  When your starting XI is filled with the likes of Ribery, Robben, and Schweinsteiger, you can impose your will upon just about any team.  To anyone who thinks otherwise, all you need to do is look at that aggregate score against Barcelona, the best possession team in the world.  7-0.  I repeat, 7-0 against the best possession team in the world.  Bayern is on top of the soccer world right now, and should be able to dictate how this final is played.  On the other hand, Dortmund has made its way to the final by playing what their coach calls "Full Throttle Football", an aggressive counter-attacking style marked by constant pressure on the ball, one-touch passing, and getting up and down the field rapidly.  The teamwork with which they play is exceptional and makes you wonder if they have all been playing together since kindergarten.  Moreover, they have quite possibly the hottest striker in the game in Robert Lewandowski, who has scored 10 goals in 11 Champions League matches this season. Don't be surprised if he gets another in the final, as he is Dortmund's most lethal threat up top, and will be their target man throughout the game.

Prediction:

This should be another close match between the German teams, but in the end I think Bayern's quality will be too much for Dortmund to handle.  I must admit, Dortmund has seemed like the team of destiny after going unbeaten in the group stages and narrowly getting by Malaga and Madrid in the knockout rounds.  However, I was convinced after the Barcelona matches that Bayern is the best team in the world right now, and is on a mission to avenge their loss to Chelsea in last year's final.  Bayern has not lost to Dortmund this year, and the talent of Ribery, Schweinsteiger, and Robben in the midfield should be the difference with Gotze out.  I expect Dortmund to get a goal, and may even score first, but after ninety minutes Bayern will walk away the winner, sending their manager Jupp Heynckes off to retirement in the best manner possible.

Bayern Munich 2-1

Extra Time:

The Champions League final is soccer's version of the Super Bowl.  As such, bookmakers offer a number of prop bets for the game, though they are not anywhere near as ridiculous as some Super Bowl props.  I have gone through the list a few times and have found a few intriguing props that might be worth a small wager.  Remember, this is only for fun, and no one should be out there wagering pink slips or mortgages.

Dortmund Score 1st (+160):  The first fifteen minutes of any final are nervy, and that is the last thing you want when you are facing a team that applies constant pressure on the ball.  There is great value in this play, and don't be surprised if it's Lewandowski who opens the account.

Bayern To Win By 1 Goal (+250):  All four games these two teams played this year were decided by one goal or less.  Don't expect anything different in a cup final.  

Lewandowski To Score 1st Goal (+550):  The man put four goals past Madrid, and has scored 10 in 11 Champions League matches.  There isn't a hotter striker at the end of the season.

Robben To Score 1st Goal (+700): The Dutch winger is one of the best in the world, and will be looking to atone for his penalty miss in last year's final.  Expect to see shots early and often from Robben on Saturday.