5 Key Battles – Champions League Final

The first ever German Chamapions league final will be held tomorrow at Wembley. Bayern will be looking to go level with Liverpool by winning their 5th European Cup while Dortmund will have their second CL title if they somehow beat rivals tomorrow.
Jurgen Klopp’s men outclassed Bayern last year and this year Bayern returned the favor as far as German football is concerned. However if Jupp’s side loses, it will be their third CL final defeat in the last 4 years. Nevertheless, Bayern have blown top sides away this season. Soccerisma looks at the 5 key battles that may decide the Champions League Final.

Bayern bought Mario Mandzukic last summer and the Croatian striker quickly became as their main man upfront. The forward has shone in his first season with the club but his European form has not been as prolific as in the league having only scored 2 goals in 9 appearances.
On the other hand Dortmund have possibly the best defender of Bundesliga in Hummels. The Dortmund star has been influential for the club having kept many top strikers quiet and he has to be on his toes to stop Mandzukic and Bayern’s brilliant attack.

Dante will have the main responsibility of stopping Dortmund’s star striker Robert Lewandowski. Although, it is likely that the experienced van Buyten will start with him but the 35 year old has rarely featured regularly for Bayern this season and Dante will be the key in central defense.
Lewandowski is getting better and better every year for the German side. The Polish striker has scored no less than 36 goals this season and above all 10 goals in 12 Champions league appearances. Bayern are well aware of the threat posed by the man who single handedly ripped then Spanish champions Real Madrid apart in the first leg of the semifinals.

The only Spaniard left in the Champions league, Javi Martinez has arguably been the signing of the season. One of the main reasons behind Munich dominance is Martinez’s sheer presence in front of the back 4. World Class players like Messi and Iniesta had no answers coming up against the former Bilbao player.
Marco Reus also signed for Borussia Dortmund last summer and him alongside Mario Goetze form a brilliant partnership. The latter will not be playing any part tomorrow and Reus will have to be at his best in perhaps the most important battle of the game to unsettle Martinez.

Although, Arjen Robben was influential in both legs against Barcelona still his past record in the finals was enough to not include him. Flop in last 2 CL finals and well we all remember World Cup 2010 final. Frank Ribery has been in top form this season having scored 11 goals and provided more than 20 assists this season for the German Champions.
The French international will be up against equally impressive Piszczek. Not only the Polish right back is a good right back but also adds to Dortmund’s attack as well. Piszczek has provided no less than 10 assists which is a brilliant stat for a defender. In any case his main task will be to keep Ribery quiet on the night.

Neuer is arguably one of the best goalies around and surely better than Weidenfeller. Adding to that, he has a fantastic defensive lineup in front of him as well. Bayern have kept most clean sheets in Bundesliga,21 and conceded only 18 goals this season
Dortmund on the other hand kept only 8 clean sheets in the German league and conceded no less than 42 goals. Still, there is always a chance such a game goes to penalties and then there is no one favorite.
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