UEFA Champions League Final: Preview and Projected Lineups

Official 2013 UEFA Champions League Final match ball (Image via UEFA)

One of the most celebrated days in the club soccer calendar as finally approached us as German titans Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will square off at Wembley Stadium in London for the UEFA Champions League title.

Both clubs went on a rampant tear, especially Bayern, in the knockout stage of the competition and not only are German bragging rights up for grabs but continental bragging rights as well.

Both clubs will also be missing key players as Mario Gotze is out for Dortmund while Toni Kroos sidelined for the Bundesliga champions.

Here is a look at how both sides will line up when they take to the historic pitch at Wembley on Saturday.

Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1)

Manuel Neuer (GK) Philipp Lahm, Jerome Boateng, Dante, Daniel Alaba, Javi Martinez, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Muller, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Mario Mandzukic.

With Kroos being out injured, expect Muller to shift into the center of the attacking trio and the veteran Robben to get a start out on the right with Ribery on the left.

The most daunting defensive midfield duo in all of Europe right now has to be the pair of Martinez and Schweinsteiger, who have excelled in their first year together for Bayern.

In goal, Neuer is in the form of his life and he is once again expected to have a stellar match in front of a massive global audience.

Borussia Dortmund (4-2-3-1)

Roman Weidenfeller (GK), Lukasz Piszczek, Mats Hummels, Neven Subotic, Marcel Schmelzer, Ilkay Gundogan, Sebastien Kehl, Jakub Blaszcyzkowski, Marco Reus, Kevin Grosskeutz, Robert Lewandowski.

With Gotze out injured, the pressure to provide for Lewandowski will fall squarely on the shoulders of Reus, who is one of the best young players in the world.

Both Blaszcyzkowski and Grosskreutz are solid wingers but the true rhythm of the attacking trio will be dictated by Reus.

The back four is led by the ever-present towering pair of Subotic and Hummels but they will have their hands full on Saturday and they are sure to concede at least a goal or two.

Prediction: Bayern Munich 2, Borussia Dortmund 1.

Bayern will gunning for the win from the time the first whistle is sounded. After last season’s disappointment against Chelsea in the final in their home stadium, Bayern are out for revenge and they have shown just how dominant they are at both the domestic and continental levels this season.

1 Comment on "UEFA Champions League Final: Preview and Projected Lineups"

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  1. prediction: B Dortmond 3 - 1 B Munich. I think it, don’t poor me.

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