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The football world is on tenterhooks. The biggest event in club football is less than 10 hours away. The UEFA Champions League final is a celebration of excellence and consistency. The best of the best play each other, and any team that reaches the final has to be acknowledged as a great team.
This is only the fourth time that two teams of the same nationality are squaring up for the biggest trophy in Europe. The rivalry between the German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund is not just any rivalry. ‘Der Klasiker’ in terms of passion and heart occupies a pedestal similar to the El Clasico and the Manchester United- Liverpool rivalry.
That we would see a German war between two teams who work hard, who run hard, who counter well and have world class players is just our good fortune.
But within any war, there are battles, which decide the winner of the war. More often than not the team that wins is the team which wins its battles. Here are some key battles which I anticipate would dictate the outcome of this match.
Ilkay Gundogan vs. Bastian Schweinsteiger:
What Schweinsteiger is to Bayern, Gundogan is to Dortmund. Both are masters in the midfield. Both have unending reserves of energy, commitment and skill. While Schweinsteiger has matured into one of the finest in his position, and plays deeper in Bayern’s midfield, Gundogan is the man Dortmund look for in midfield. It is likely that Schweinsteiger would try to control his younger compatriot. Gundogan too, has defensive duties, and has enough toughness in him to cause the Bayern Munich talisman some problems. The man who emerges from this battle could very well lead his team to victory.
Robert Lewandowski vs. Dante:
Dante has been a revelation this season. He has been mobile, quick and strong at all times. The way he has played is a manager’s dream. It would be his responsibility to stop the goal-machine Robert Lewandowski. The Polish marksman has been the most crucial cog to Dortmund’s success and if he can replicate a fraction of the finishing skill he showed against Real Madrid, he could very well lead his club to glory. The result could very well hinge on this contest.
Marco Reus vs. Javi Martinez:
In all probability Reus would be asked to play just behind Lewandowski in attack. This would bring him in direct conflict with the Spanish bulwark Martinez. Both are having stellar first seasons at their new clubs and though they play different roles, their contributions are huge. Unlike Mario Gotze, Reus is more physical, quicker and more direct with his play. While marking Gotze could have been easier, Reus presets very different problems for Martinez. He can drag Martinez out of position and leave the Bayern defence devoid of their shield. If Martinez does not get drawn into Reus, he could easily overload a particular wing and cause the Bayern fullbacks big problems.
Mats Hummels vs. Mario Mandzukic:
Hummels is one of the best centre-backs in the world at this point in time. He is strong, quick, a brilliant reader of the game and a better ball player than most midfielders. Hummels is his team’s talisman and when he has a good game, inadvertently Dortmund play well too. Mandzukic is the hybrid modern day centre forward. He chases down defenders and makes them commit errors. He has quick feet and is equally adept at scoring from both long and short range. If Hummels can keep a lid on Mandzukic, Bayern could become a headless dragon. On the other hand, if Mandzukic gets the better off the Dortmund defender, Klopp’s men could collapse.
Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery vs Marcel Schmelzer and Lukasz Piszczek: This is the most important battle of all. Both of Bayern’s wingers were excellent against Barcelona. Robben looked like he was back to his best, while Ribery was the epitome of commitment. In the last Bundesliga match, Ribery set up two and scored a brace. The Dortmund fullbacks are efficient, quick and tough. But to counter the pair of Robben and Ribery, they would have to be at their best, as any tiny slip-up could lead to a goal and an eventual defeat.
