Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben and Dortmund’s Marco Reus vie for the ball. (AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOF STACHE)
England, Italy and Spain are the only three countries to represent both teams in the finals of the UEFA Champions League since its inception in 1955. But today, a fourth will join that group: Germany. Bundesliga clubs Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich handled their semifinal match-ups against Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. The finals will be played on May 25th at Wembley Stadium in London, the site of the football finals during the 2012 London Olympics.
Borussia Dortmund lacked the superb level of play in the second leg of the semifinal matchup against Madrid that was on display in the first leg when they topped the Spanish club 4-1 in Germany. Though it is possible they could have been playing a little flat knowing that with a 4-1 aggregate lead, it would be hard to lose such an advantage. Though a late push — 82nd and 88th minute goals by Madrid — made it 4-3 aggregate and setup an intense finish in Spain. However, it was too little, too late for Jose Mourinho’s club, who is possibly in his last season at the Bernabeu.
Dortmund is led by 24-year-old Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, and not just in the Bundesliga — having netted 23 goals to lead his team — but also in the Champions League where his 10 goals are second to only Cristiano Ronaldo of Madrid. His breakout performance in the first leg against Madrid, a match in which he scored four goals, was his defining moment as the staple of Jurgen Klopp’s resurrection of the German club.
Klopp will lead his young team, comprised more of solid role players than star players, against star-studded Champions League favorite Bayern Munich — who also are 20 points ahead of Dortmund in the Bundesliga and have already solidified the #1 spot. Some are putting Munich as much as 76.6% favorites in the final. Dortmund has yet to beat Munich this year, losing twice and drawing once. But interestingly, the two German clubs have a Bundesliga match this Saturday, May 4th — though it is doubtful either club will send out their full squads for a match that has little meaning.
Bayern Munich dismantled La Liga powerhouse Barcelona in their first leg April 23rd, beating the Spanish club 4-0 in Germany. Two goals by Thomas Müller and a goal each from Arjen Robben and Mario Gomez sealed the match and arguably the entire semifinals. No club has ever come back from 4-0 to advance in the Champions League. In the second leg, Barcelona seemed dispirited, a quality not ameliorated by their being without their star player, Lionel Messi. Müller and Robben each contributed another goal in the 3-0 victory over Barcelona while the Spanish side started playing sloppily — Barcelona defenseman Gerard Piqué contributed an own goal to put his team down 0-2 at the time. Many expected Bayern Munich to beat Barcelona, though it was expected to be close; 7-0 on aggregate scoring no one would have guessed.
The last time we saw one country in the finals was in 2008 when England had Manchester United and Chelsea faced off in the finals at Luzhniki Stadium, in Moscow, Russia — United won 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw following stoppage time. That was an exciting finals, and a German showdown will likely be as striking. Munich lost last year in the finals to Chelsea 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular time. The loss was felt even more so in a game played in their own Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany — labeled ”Fußball Arena München” for the final. Munich are the favorites to take it all, but Borussia’s incredible run to the top of the league can’t be questioned until the final whistle is blown.
In a political context, the German victories over Spain adds fuel to the political and social debate that Germany, anchored by Angela Merkel, has created over European austerity.
