BETDAQ’s Greg Walker is back with an in-depth preview Saturday’s Champions League Final at Wembley between Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich which is live on ITV.
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Greg is BETDAQ’s spokesperson and has plenty to say on the subject of football. Each week he brings his recommended BETDAQ bets across a range of matches but with focus on his area of expertise – European and International football.
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He now previews Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich …..
Champions League Final
Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich
KO 19:45, Saturday
Kings of Europe….
As always it has been an eventful and entertaining season for European football and this Saturday in a noisy stadium in London one team will be crowned the 2012-13 Kings of Europe. Internationally, Germany has always been at the forefront of World Cup’s and European Championships but for this occasion it is their league clubs which has gained all the accolades. Both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are deserved finalists but did have their little scares en-route. Bayern Munich took complete control of the last sixteen first leg away to arsenal winning three goals to one but almost self combusted in the return leg losing two nil to the Londoners. Borussia Dortmund had a much bigger scare in their quarter final second leg home tie to the very organised Spanish outfit Malaga and somehow scored two goals, one particularly controversial, in injury time where they had the rub of the green at the ‘Westfalenstadion’. All that is behind both teams now and from a purely football perspective both of these German sides play the modern brand of fast and slick passing football with the emphasis on attack so this final should be easy on the eye for it’s watching world audience.
Rivalry renewed….
At the start of this season’s Champion’s League many people would have predicted FC Bayern Munich getting to the final however the opposite can be said of fellow Bundesliga side Borrussia Dortmund. In reality only fans following the German bundesliga would have been familiar with the name ‘Jurgen Klopp’ however nine month’s later every football fan across Europe has got an opinion on the floppy haired Dortmund gaffer. The most common opinion I am sure is one of great respect as after all ‘Jurgen Klopp’ has already led this Dortmund side to a number of trophies. One German Super-cup (in UK the charity shield) and successive Bundesliga titles in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. In season 2011-12 Klopp’s Dortmund also completed the domestic double by winning the DFB-Pokal, (in UK the FA Cup) an incredible achievement in any league. Whilst for many passive viewers of the Bundesliga it is Bayern Munich whom have the greater fame but it is clear that the team from Dortmund have had the greater form domestically particularly as it is just under twelve months ago that Dortmund beat Bayern in the cup final when completing that double, the scoreline?….Borussia Dortmund 5 Bayern Munich 2…..
Movie Stars….?
FC Hollywood, a nickname that resonates around the globe as the most famous team from Germany. This will be ‘Munchen’s’ Coach Jupp Heynckes last game in charge as win or lose it is ex-Barcelona boss, Pep Guardiola, who is coming to take over in the summer. As mentioned it is Dortmund, up to 2012, who have been the team in form domestically but in Europe it is Bayern Munich that have been the in-form team. This is Bayern’s third Champion’s League final in just four years however the Bavarians will be hoping it is third time lucky having lost in 2010 and 2012. This team has been improving dramatically over the past couple of years and with only four players still in the team from that 2010 final it is clear to see a relative new team has been assembled. Bayern broke the Bundesliga transfer record when signing solid Spaniard, Javi Martinez for €40 million. Also in came German international keeper Manuel Neuer, Arjen Robben, Mario Gomez, Mario Mandzukic and the outstanding young Austrian David Alaba. Munich captain Philipp Lahm is one of the best full backs in world football and two fellow German internationals are also regulars, Bastian Schewinstiger and Thomas Muller. The talents are so great in this team that one could be forgiven for forgetting a star player, oh, Franck Ribery. For this writer Ribery is the third best attacking player in Europe after Messi and Ronaldo (but Bale is catching up!) and one thing about this Frenchman is that he thrives in the ‘big’ games so expect Monsieur Ribery to be in the thick of the action. Now, tell me again, why are they called ‘FC Hollywood’….?
Goetz – major blow….
It is ironic that ten years on from when Bayern Munich kindly loaned Borussia Dortmund €2 million (yes just €2!) as Dortmund were on the verge of bankruptcy that they now meet in the final. Dortmund have come a long way since then and will, as always, be a stern test for their Wembley opponents. The Rhine club may not have as many big name players as Munich but that has not prevented them from going toe to toe with their rivals over the past few years, although the Munich men have regained the upper hand this past season. Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski is second only to Ronaldo in the current Champion’s League top goal scorer chart however four of his ten goals came in that magnificent defeat against a clearly out of sorts Real Madrid. A major blow to the Borussians is the absence of injured midfield maestro Mario Goetz. One of the key reasons Dortmund have got this far is down to the magnificent performances of the young German and his likely replacement, Nuri Sahin, is not in the same league.
Bayern Munich….Champions!
For me, Mario Goetz not playing for Dortmund is similar to Lionel Messi not playing for Barcelona. The effect his absence will have on the final is huge and I expect Bayern Munich to capitalise. As stated earlier Dortmund beat Munich by five goals to two just twelve months ago but I feel that since then Bayern Munich have developed into an exceptional team and are only going to get better. There have been some final upsets in Europe in recent weeks, Wigan beating Man. City and Atletico Madrid beating Real Madrid however I feel there will not be an upset on the cards in this final. Bayern Munich ARE exceptional, watch and enjoy….
Betting on BETDAQ – Greg’s Tips:
BACK 5 POINTS– Bayern Munich to win @ 1.81
BACK 1 POINT–Player to Score anytime—FRANCK RIBERY @ 4.0
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