With just over 24 hours until billions across the world switch their attention to Wembley Stadium, players of Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich are keying themselves up for what could be the biggest game of their careers.
Players form both sides have won trophies, played in finals and tasted the big occasion before. But this has extra-spice to it.
Two German teams. Two bitter rivals. Two teams high in confidence after dismantling two Spanish giants in the semifinals.
Throw Mario Götze’s transfer from Dortmund to Bayern in the mix -- Munich paid the near $60 million release clause for Borussia’s star player and academy product to become theirs, just hours before Dortmund’s crucial semifinal game against Real Madrid -- and we are going to have one heck of a humdinger in North London on Saturday afternoon.
(More: Champions League Final infographic, Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich)
Individual battles will crop up all over the pitch, with both sets of players extremely familiar with each other after years of battling it out on the Bundesliga stage. Götze is out injured which is a huge blow for Dortmund, with the 20-year-old key to their attacking impetus. However his absence will have spared him an awkward battle before he joins up with his new Bayern teammates this summer.
They’re probably sick of the sight of one another. That cranks the intensity up even higher. Let’s see which key battle will determine which German side will be victorious.
DANTE v ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI
Brazilian Dante has become a key member of Bayern’s backline since arriving from Borussia Monchengladbach last summer. They conceded just 18 goals in 34 games. 21 goals less than any other German defense. They also equaled a club record of 20 clean sheets. Dante will have to keep his composure to stop the towering Lewandowski, who smashed in all four goals to defeat Real Madrid in their semi-final first leg win at the Westfalenstadion.
The big Polish striker could be on the move to some of the Europe’s biggest teams. It would be a great sendoff if he could seal the UCL trophy for Dortmund.
MARIO MANDZUKIC v NEVEN SUBOTIC
At the other end of the pitch another massive battle will take place between two giants.
Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic has hammered home 20 goals this season for Bayern, but just two in UCL action. His strike-partner Thomas Muller has scored eight as Mandzukic’s tireless work rate and clever runs often opens up space for others to exploit. Serbian international, Neven Subotic, is given the task to keep him quiet. With US soccer fans knowing the massive defender only too well after he represented the US as a youth international and played at the University of South Florida before switching his allegiance to Serbia and moved to the Bundesliga.
This will be a mammoth battle with elbows and heads flying everywhere.
BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER v SVEN BENDER
It feels like Schweinsteiger has been around for decades. Because he has. But he’s only 28 and is the heart and soul of Bayern’s midfield. The German international will be looking to lift the UCL title after twice missing out to Inter Milan and Chelsea in recent seasons. That will drive all the Munich players on.
Schweinsteiger will break up player and get attacks going, as he looks to dominate the midfield. However that won’t be easy with Sven Bender around. The 24-year-old holding midfielder has been solid as a rock in the holding role and if he plays well and breaks up Bayern’s offensive fluidity, Dortmund has a big chance of winning the Champions League crown for just the second time in their history.
