Bayern Munich win the Champions League final
ARJEN ROBBEN will never forget the night he exorcised his demons and ended Bayern Munich’s Champions League jinx.
The former Chelsea ace slotted the last-gasp winner against Jurgen Klopp’s heroic Borussia Dortmund.
Last year he missed a penalty in extra-time against Chelsea and Bayern lost on penalties.
This year he cried tears of joy as he celebrated with Bayern’s ecstatic fans at Wembley.
Bayern are the new Kings of Europe – in a year they destroyed Juventus and Barcelona.
They made history for their departing boss Jupp Heynckes and new chief Pep Guardiola will struggle to better their performance last night.
Klopp was proved right — this was the “perfect” final in the perfect setting.
Sadly for his Borussia Babes it was not to be as Bayern celebrated their fifth Champions League crown — matching Liverpool’s haul.
It was a night a sheer drama, a night when the Germans became the darlings of Wembley and the world.
Half of Wembley was yellow and black and other half in red and white. It was a sight to behold as two these two tribes turned our historic stadium into their own for one night.
We may never have another night like it in North London.
A night when the level of the football matched the pre-match hype and expectations.
The two best teams in Europe provided drama, and suspense in equal measure.
And their fans provided the colour and the songs that will forever live in the memory of those of us who were here.
They graced the new Wembley and created an explosive atmosphere full of colour, songs, passion and love for the game.
“Heute ist wieder ein guter tag” read the massive Red & White mosaic created by Bayern fans. “Today is again a good day” they said in anticipation of winning another trophy after the Bundesliga this season.
And so it proved.
Bayern came here as overwhelming favourites after the way they dispatched Juventus and particularly Barcelona with a 7-0 aggregate win over two legs.
Dortmund were equally impressive when they destroyed Jose Mourinho’s lamentable Real Madrid 4-1 in their imposing Westfallenstadion.
In the last eight matches these two played Dortmund won five and drew two. Bayern beat them in the German Cup this year but also lost last year’s German Cup final 5-2.
Dortmund were never going to be a walkover and they did not allow Bayern time to breathe let alone think inside their own half.
Robert Lewandowski’s blast from 25 yards that Manuel Neuer tipped over after 14 minutes was a sign of things to come.
A minute later Dortmund should have been ahead. Sven Bender crossed and Kuba Blaszczykowski caught a first-time shot from the edge of the six-yard box which unsighted Neuer somehow managed to push it away.
A quick exchange after 19 minutes saw Reus break clear on the left but he was forced wide by Dante and his 20-yard blast went close to Neuer who punched away for another corner.
Dortmund egged on by 40,000 fanatic supporters settled down into their rhythm.
Gundogan was on a great night as was Reus and Grosskreuz.
Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez, such a dominant midfield duo normally, were effectively taken out of the game by the craft of Gundogan and the dynamic Bender.
The latter was closed down next to the corner flag but somehow threaded in Blaszczykowski to have a free shot that mercifully Neuer saved again.
Bayern struggled to find an answer to the way Klopp’s formation worked.
Heynckes’ troops were so well closed down that at times tried 60 or 70-yard hopeful punts towards Mario Mandzukic who lost out in the sandwich of Neven Subotic and Matts Hummels.
Boss Jupp Hyecnkes was relieved to see Ribery stay on the pitch instead of being expelled after 25 minutes when he elbowed Lewandowski in the face.
The Pole was tugging at his shirt but the Frenchman’s reaction was stupid.
Within seconds Bayern had the best chance of the game. Ribery crossed and Mandzukic rose to head on target from six yards but Roman Weidenfeller tipped it on to the bar and over.
Schweinsteiger took the corner and Javi Martinez pushed Sven Bender but headed inches over.
This was now a proper final and Bayern had another sitter on the half hour mark.
Muller toe-poked the perfect assist for Robben who was clear in front of Weidenfeller but the Dortmund keeper saved for a corner.
Memories of last year’s final when Robben was the villain after missing a penalty in normal time to win the trophy against Chelsea in Bayern’s own Fussball Arena. The German giants went on to lose on pens.
Klopp was a sight to watch on the bench as well. The way he punched the air every time one of his “boys” did something good.
Heynckes was also shouting at his players, barking instructions and geeing them up.
The almighty German champions were rocked but still produced a performance of organisation and discipline – the default base on which the individual skill of Thomas Muller, Franck Ribery and Robben is allowed to shine.
After 35 minutes, Lewandowski picked up Reus' brilliant pass on the turn and turned Jerome Boateng but hero Neuer saved again with his feet.
Moments later Robben was clear but Subotic blocked for a corner.
The Dutchman swung it in and Muller won another set-piece header but it was inches wide of Weidenfeller’s far post.
Three minutes from the interval Robben won a tussle with Hummels and had time to pull the trigger but it hit Weidenfeller in the face and Subotic cleared.
They went in goalless at half time and the two keepers were the best players on the pitch.
Bayern had more of the ball in the second half – and in truth could and should have won it.
Heynckes’ men could have gone ahead on 59 minutes but Martinez’s close-range header went straight at Weidenfeller.
But on the hour Mandzukic slotted them ahead as Bayern’s own 40,000 fans went wild.
When Ribery played in Robben, Mandzukic was offside but as the Dutchman turned and squared for the Croatian to slot home ref Mario Rizzoli gave nothing.
Mario Gotze, Dortmund’s injured star watching from the stands sporting a jockey cap, winced in pain.
Mind you he has joined Bayern already for next season so quite what was going through his mind is anyone’s guess.
After 66 minutes, Lewandowski played through Lukasz Pieszczek but he went down under a challenge by Dante. Despite the shouts for a penalty, the Polish right-back was fouled outside the box.
Seconds later though, ref Rizzioli had no option but to give a spot-kick as Dante caught Reus in the proverbials with a mistimed challenge.
And then it was up to Gundogan to send Neuer the other way and send the Dortmund fans into a frenzy.
Moments later Hummels skied his effort after Blaszczykowski’s 50-yard run.
On 72 minutes, Muller thought he had scored after rounding Weidenfeller but Subotic ran and cleared the ball inches before the line and ahead of Robben who was ready to make sure it was in.
Klopp punched the air as if his team had scored a goal.
There was more controversy aftrer 78 mintues when Muller was clear and was pulled back by Subotic before finding Mandzukic who smashed it into the side-netting.
Then Boateng went in studs first on Lewandowski, ref Rizzoli didn’t give the blatant foul and the Poland superstar stepped on the Bayern defender’s ankle in retaliation.
Weidenfeller pulled off another spectacular save to deny Schweinsteiger with three minutes left.
Extra-time was looming but Robben had one last chance after Ribery’s back-heel with two minutes left and this time he didn’t miss as he slotted past Weidenfeller.
He excorcised his own personal demons and those of Bayern who had lost two of the last three finals to Inter and Chelsea.
Sub Julien Scheiber still had time to test Neuer who held his nerve and Rizzoli’s final whistle found Bayern fans going bananas.
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