Champions League
2013-05-25 - Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich
A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser
Football : UEFA Champions League Final
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
25th May 2013 – Kickoff time 20:45
Match Preview :
Bayern Munich face Borussia Dortmund on Saturday evening as Wembley prepares to host the first ever all German Final in a European Final clash. And after Bayern Munich won it in 2001, and Borussia Dortmund in 1997, now a German side will once again be guaranteed to win the UEFA Champions League for the third time.
Bayern Munich will start as huge favourites after a wonderful season in the German Bundesliga. Not only did they win the Bundesliga title earlier than any team in history, but they also set records for the most wins, fewest defeats, the fewest goals conceded, most clean sheets and best goal difference, and they also scored in every league match they have played in.
In Europe they have been so dominant this season, Bayern Munich have won all four of their quarter and semi-final matches, scoring 11 goals without conceding against Juventus and Barcelona. And Bayern will want to win this final after having lost to Inter Milan in 2010 and Chelsea on penalties last season in their home stadium, the Allianz Arena.
It should however be noted that Dortmund have a much better record when it comes to the Champions League final, having won the only one they played in, in the 90s. On form there is little to split the two teams. Dortmund are unbeaten in their last six league games against the German champions with four wins and two draws, however Bayern have not lost in four knockout games with their Saturday opponents.
For Dortmund, this is the opportunity to respond after a season in which Bayern have won the other two Cups in Germany and will be seeking to complete the treble. They reached the final after Robert Lewandowski scored four goals in their semi-final first leg against Real Madrid, and qualified despite a late scare in the Bernabeu.
They did meet in a final on neutral ground at the end of last season with Dortmund running out 5-2 winners in that match. However, Bayern are improved since then and are aiming to complete the treble (they’ve already won the German league and Cup).
The match will be Jupp Heynckes penultimate game in charge before the veteran coach leaves the club and allows Pep Guardiola to take his place at the helm. Heynckes beat Barcelona 7-0 aggregate in the semi finals and it’s hard to look past Jupp Heynckes’ team.
Despite four of the last five Champions League finals producing less than three goals the one exemption to that rule was when Barcelona beat Manchester United at Wembley and we could well see this match going over 2.5 goals.
Team News :
Borussia Dortmund Team News :
Dortmund will be without departing star Mario Gotze. He will join opponents Bayern in the summer, but will miss the final as he is still troubled by the hamstring injury he sustained early in the semi-final second leg against Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Dortmund's other injury concern is defender Mats Hummels, who picked up an ankle injury in Dortmund's league game against Schalke. Those two remain Klopp's only real concerns, with Dortmund announcing that Lukasz Piszczek will have hip surgery after the final and will be out for five months
Bayern Munich Team News :
Bayern Munich coach Heynckes has no new injury concerns ahead of this match. However, this week Bayern received the news that defender Holger Badstuber, who has been out with a cruciate injury since December, will be out of action for a further 10 months.
But after naming a strong side against Monchengladbach in their final Bundesliga match, all of their players came away without any injuries.
Prediction:
Go for this match to go OVER 2.5 goals.
The Pick :
Over 2.5 Goals
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Go for Over 2.5 goals.
