Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich: 2013 Champions League Final Preview
The 2013 Champions
League final will be played this Saturday, May 25th (2:45 EST), at
Wembley Stadium in London, England, but it will feature two German juggernauts.
Borussia Dortmund (BVB) is the 2012 Bundesliga Champion and they’ll be playing
the 2013 Bundesliga Champions Bayern Munich (FCB).
This is the 4th
time in 14 years that teams have played in the finals from the same country,
and the first time two German teams have made the finals. The fist time it
happened was in 1999-00 when Real Madrid defeated Valencia.
First place Bayern
Munich finished so far ahead of second place Borussia Dortmund in the
Bundesliga that they’re just a blip on the horizon. Bayern Munich finished the
season with 91 points, a record of 29-4-1. That means throughout their 34 game
season Munich lost just once…. ALL season.
Borussia Dortmund
finished with a record of 19-9-6 and 66 points, meaning Munich finished 25
points ahead of Dortmund in the Bundesliga.
White both were
offensively dominant in the recent Bundesliga season (FCB scored 98
goals, BVB scored 81), one team was more dominant in the defensive third. While
Dortmund allowed 42 goals, Munich only conceded 18 goals all season. That gives
Munich a goal differential of +80, more than double Dortmund’s goal
differential.
It doesn’t hurt
that Bayern Munich was able to bench a goal scoring machine in Mario Gómez in
favor of the equally and arguably more dominant Mario Mandžukić.
These teams have
squared off 92 times and Bayern Munich holds the edge 41 wins to 23 and there
have been 28 draws. This favors Munich greatly. But in all their meetings going
back to the 11-12 season the record favors Dortmund. Dortmund has won 3 out of
7 contests. Munich has won 2 contests and 2 were draws.
More importantly,
one of those Dortmund wins came in Munich.
But in what makes
the one team favored over the other it really comes down to defense. Dortmund
and Munich both have capable goal scorers in Robert Lewandoski
and Mandžukić. Munich has a great midfield in Ribéry and Robben on the
wings and Schweinsteiger (FYI, great German name) and Kroos in the middle.
Dortmund’s midfield isn’t quite as strong, yet still quality. Their most
promising midfielder Mario Götze has already agreed to transfer to Munich this
summer.
And back to the
defensive third. Dortmund’s strongest defender,Mats Hummels,
is battling an injury. Munich has a strong defensive rotation of Dante, Lahm,
Badstuber, Van Buyten, and Boateng.
This game comes
down to defense, and Bayern Munich stops Dortmund more often and controls
possession. Munich also has lost 2 of the last 3 Champions League finals. That
experience helps them finally win this year.
Bayern Munich wins
in my opinion.