Borussia Dortmund – Bayern Munich

And so here we are - the main moment of the European club season is almost upon us. London's creaky transport system has been awash with the red of Bayern Munich and the yellow of Borussia Dortmund as fans of the two Bundesliga clubs make their way to Wembley for the Champions League final.

Thankfully for them, the capital seems to have got over its recent bout of rainy, windy weather, and the sun is out in North London with kick-off a little over an hour away.

Bayern are favourites, and that's no surprise - but the splendid Jurgen Klopp and his Dortmund side will have plenty to say about that. Their refusal to give up (and some charitable officiating) got them past Malaga before they saw off Real Madrid to reach Wembley.

Even that achievement, though, paled slightly in comparison to league champions Munich's destruction, both home and away, of Barcelona in the last four.

The team news is here, and this is how Bayern will line up tonight: <b>Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Dante, Alaba; Martinez, Schweinsteiger; Robben, Mueller, Ribery; Mandzukic</b>.

Dortmund, minus the injured Mario Gotze, who will be a Bayern Munich player next season, look like this: <b>Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer; Bender, Gundogan; Blaszczykowski, Reus, Grosskreutz; Lewandowski</b>.

Half an hour remains until kick-off. The Wembley atmosphere is building nicely. Bayern fan Boris Becker is in the building. He says that, if his team can lift the Champions League at such a legendary venue, it will be the "icing on the cake" in what would then be a perfect season.

As far as substitutes go, these are Munich's: <b>Starke, Van Buyten, Shaqiri, Pizarro, Gustavo, Gomez, Tymoschuk</b>.

And here are Dortmund's: <b>Langerak, Kehl, Leitner, Sahin, Kirch, Schieber, Felipe Santana</b>.

Sebastian Kehl is talking about the mood that surrounds football in Dortmund. "This is a city that lives and breathes football," he says.

Concern for Bayern: Bastian Schweinsteiger seems to have picked up a knock in the warm-up.

It's not clear whether the midfielder's problem is serious or not, but he's hobbling a bit. We'll see...

Tonight, of course, is almost the end of the line for outstanding Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes, who calls it a day after this season. If they win tonight, they will have had a campaign beyond their wildest dreams. And how is Pep Guardiola supposed to follow that?

Back to Schweinsteiger - he picked up a knock in a challenge with Mario Mandzukic. No further news at the moment, though.

Klopp is out on the pitch, dispensing hugs and smiles. They're a close-knit bunch at Borussia Dortmund.

Ten minutes until kick-off, and that can only mean one thing: it's big, showbizzy ceremony time. Bigwigs will look on seriously. And then we can actually get on with the actual football.

There are people dressed as knights, soldiers, archers. There's probably some mythical significance to all this as two sword-wielding soldiers do battle in the centre circle.

Good news for Bayern - Schweinsteiger is fine, and he will start. The teams are in the tunnel, and the noise when they emerge onto the pitch should be quite something...

Klopp and Heynckes embrace as their teams prepare to lock horns. The trophy is being displayed. We are five minutes away from the Champions League final.

And here come the teams: they file onto the pitch, past the trophy, to a fantastic reception. Giant team flags are out on the pitch. The stands are a riot of colour. This is what it's all about.

The Champions League anthem is played as the players line up. This is the competition's first-ever all-German final. Klopp puffs out his cheeks as the music plays, and the players shake hands.

Nicola Rizzoli is the referee this evening, by the way.

<b>Bayern get this final under way, and play the ball back. After a few short passes, it's all the way back to goalkeeper Neuer</b>.

Bayern come forward and win a throw. It's taken quickly, but any threat from Muller is quickly snuffed out by goalkeeper Weidenfeller.

Lahm starts a Bayern move, but they lose out and Dortmund try to build...

Marco Reus, though, can't keep possession - but soon Dortmund win it back.

The ball falls to Lewandowski inside the box, and his deflected effort goes for a corner.

The ball, from the right, is whipped in by Reus - but that one is cleared easily enough.

Lewandowski again: Alaba is there for Bayern. Blaszczykowski tries to chase him down, and then the Bavarians play the ball long towards Mandzukic. Too long.

Then it's Lewandowski's turn to chase a ball forward to no avail as it drifts out of play on the left.

Good pressing by Dortmund gets the ball back again, and Schmelzer wants a corner as he comes forward. He doesn't get one.

Blaszczykowski is fouled midway inside the Bayern half, and Dortmund have put plenty forward for this one.

Boateng is the Bayern defender who gets there, at the expense of the second Dortmund corner inside the first ten minutes.

Neuer takes superbly and bowls the ball out to Ribery. He, however, is crowded out by Dortmund on the left before he can do any damage.

Better from Bayern as Muller charges into a bit of space on the right. He swings in a cross which is deflected and claimed, after one slightly awkward bounce, by Weidenfeller.

Big noise at Wembley - and then Weidenfeller dawdles a bit over a goal-kick. Robben slides in to close him down, but he manages to get it clear.

Nice Dortmund link-up play - Lewandowski, unsurprisingly, involved. But the next touch goes awry and Lahm and Ribery lead the charge.

It breaks down and Dortmund, as they have so well throughout this tournament, counter. The ball breaks to Blaszczykowski near the corner of the box and his effort sails over.

It breaks down and Dortmund, as they have so well throughout this tournament, counter. The ball breaks to Blaszczykowski near the corner of the box and his effort sails over.

It breaks down and Dortmund, as they have so well throughout this tournament, counter. The ball breaks to Blaszczykowski near the corner of the box and his effort sails over.

Long from Bayern, who have yet to really settle into any sort of stride. Again, that's no problem for the Dortmund defence.

Schweinsteiger, the subject of that pre-match scare, has possession. But good pressing from Dortmund forces Bayern backwards. When they go forward through Robben, he wins a throw in Dortmund territory.

Nothing doing from that one, though. Dortmund are defending very solidly. Lewandowski gets away, briefly, down the left - he left Boateng in his wake - but, with not much in the way of support, overruns it as he looks to cross.

Seconds later, Neuer tips over as Lewandowski unleashes a curler from distance. It was close to the 'keeper, who made sure. Corner...

...Bayern defend well, but Dortmund come forward again and Blaszczykowski fires in a low effort. Neuer tips it around well and Bayern get rid of the corner.

...Bayern defend well, but Dortmund come forward again and Blaszczykowski fires in a low effort. Neuer tips it around well and Bayern get rid of the corner.

Dortmund will be the more encouraged so far, without a doubt. That's twice they've forced good saves - and that's twice more than Munich have managed.

A quarter of an hour gone, and Bayern need to get their key men on the ball a bit more. It's bitty from them. Martínez crosses low from the right and Weidenfeller claims.

A long ball from Bayern is nodded down, and there are one or two moments of uncertainty in the Dortmund defence. In the end, they clear their lines.

Boateng is fouled by Lewandowski as the striker tries to turn him. Well, that's what the referee thinks. It looked a bit harsh.

Ribery is down after a clearance from Piszczek thunders into him. He's grimacing.

He's back on his feet, watching Dortmund break. The move gives Reus the chance to fire in a shot from distance. Neuer again blocks, putting the ball out for a corner.

Again, though, the flag-kick is a disappointing one. Bayern clear, but they are the side under threat and aren't really creating any of their own. Yet.

Bayern look for Mandzukic, but again it's rather aimless. The zippy, fizzing football they have played for so much of this season isn't making itself apparent.

As if to illustrate that, Dante gives away possession and Grosskreutz finds a ball to Bender, whose low strike is saved and held by Neuer.

Mandzukic chases forward again. He's offside, though. The Dortmund fans are bouncing around in the stands. They'll be thoroughly enjoying what they're watching so far.

Grosskreutz flicks a clever ball infield as Dortmund play neat possession football. They're forced back to halfway, but Bayern can't get the ball at the moment.

Schweinsteiger heads clear as a deep cross comes in. Dortmund, as they have done from the word go, pick up the pieces. They are brighter, sharper and quicker to everything.

The ball cannons off the referee and Bayern try to break. Hummels is there to block as Mandzukic lurks, and then Ribery fouls Lewandowski.

He appeared to swing an arm there, and could well have had a yellow card. He's probably lucky that he didn't.

He appeared to swing an arm there, and could well have had a yellow card. He's probably lucky that he didn't.

Great save from Weidenfeller - Ribery crosses, Mandzukic heads from close range and the 'keeper fingertips the ball over the bar. Better from Bayern. What can they do from the corner?

Martinez gets a strong header in. Weidenfeller is stranded, but it's a fraction too high and lands on top of, rather than in, the net.

Piszczek clears for a throw inside the Dortmund half as Bayern come forward. But they make a mess of it and Reus races into the Munich half.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15">Dante blocks him off and receives the first yellow card of the night. Free-kick to Dortmund, inside the Bayern half. Again, plenty are forward.

Dante defends, but when the ball comes back in Piszczek stretches to try and prod it goalwards. It's just too far in front of him.

Suddenly, Robben is through. A great chance for Bayern - and a brilliant intervention from Weidenfeller, who races off his line to save the Dutchman's attempt to dink the ball past him.

This is much more like it from the Bavarians, who are suddenly showing the energy that was largely missing for the opening half an hour.

Schweinsteiger rolls the ball forward, but Dortmund's pressing in numbers again means they are unable to get much going in midfield.

Ribery fouled, halfway inside the Dortmund half, out on the left. This is being taken care of by Schweinsteiger.

And perhaps he should have left it to somebody else. The ball in is overhit, sailing past the massed ranks of players and behind for a goal-kick.

Hummels loses the ball to Mandzukic, then wins it back. Bayern snap in to win possession again. Now it is they who are having the better of the exchanges.

Lewandowski, on the right, gets away from Dante and fires in a low effort. This time Neuer is the man quickly off his line to produce another very decent stop.

Martinez defends well as Reus tries to twinkletoe his way past. Bayern move forward and Robben has a chance to cross from the right. Subotic snuffs out the danger. Corner.

When the ball comes in, Muller gets up well to glance in a header that is agonisingly close, bouncing just wide with Dortmund stranded.

We're coming towards the final five minutes of the half as Blaszczykowski moves forward for Dortmund - but then they lose it and Mandzukic flicks to Ribery on the left. Dortmund are stretched as the ball comes in, but manage to scramble clear.

A good run from Robben down the right leads to a low cross, which leads to decent defending from Dortmund.

Muller is down after Grosskreuz rather barges into him on the edge of the area. There's no free-kick, and no harm done to Muller, who is soon back on his feet.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2013/0525/jakubblaszczykowskiruesmissedchanceuclfinal20130525_275x155.jpg">

The picture below, from the earlier stages of the half when Dortmund were dominant, shows Blaszczykowski reacting after his low effort was saved.

Muller heads down for Bayern, but Bender gets the ball back and Reus motors towards the right-hand side of the area before blazing the ball over the top.

Bayern are dominating possession as the first half comes towards a close. Robben is inside the area for them, and blasts a shot after Hummels misjudges. Weidenfeller races out and blocks - it's straight at him - and Hummels makes amends, hooking the ball away.

Two minutes of normal time at the end of this first period, and Bayern will be the sorrier to hear the whistle. You wouldn't have thought that after half an hour or so.

Muller nearly, nearly finds Robben in the area. But he just overhits it and it's out for a goal-kick. The Dutchman would have had all kinds of space if that pass had come off.

<b>Not even a second of injury time - half-time arrives with the score at 0-0. Plenty of chances, but plenty of fine goalkeeping. Dortmund started the better, but Bayern bossed the latter stages. As it is, we're as you were.</b>

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com//design05/images/2013/0525/manuelneuersavesfromjakubblaszczykowskiuclfinal20130525_275x155.jpg">

Dortmund's best chance, pictured below: Neuer gets a foot to Blaszczykowski's effort to keep the scores goalless.

The second half is about to get under way - Dortmund will be kicking off.

<b>And here we go - Dortmund play the ball forward early and long, and Alaba deals with that comfortably enough.</b>

But back come Dortmund again. The ball is bundled away from Reus as he tries to find some room inside the Munich penalty area.

The 25-point Bundesliga difference between these sides would suggest that there's a gap between them. But their matches are almost always tight, and this is no exception.

Rues makes a very direct run and Ribery comes across him and fouls. Plenty will go forward for this dead ball...

It's whipped in by Reus, takes a flick off a defender and is claimed by Neuer.

Reus finds a neat turn and is then crowded out on the right. He wants a free-kick, but the referee isn't interested.

Robben and Muller have swapped sides for a while, but Dortmund are the side with the majority of the ball in these opening second-half minutes.

Blaszczykowski tries to make something happen, but Alaba is there for Bayern.

Dortmund try to get the ball out wide to Reus, who is drifting about on the right. It's too strong, and out of play for a Bayern throw.

Schmelzer wins a throw on the left for Dortmund. Both teams are now attacking the goals behind which their fans are massed.

Bayern win possession back, but again they are wilting in the face of Dortmund determination. Klopp's side are hunting in packs, closing down the space.

At the other end, Muller controls superbly and tries to get Alaba on the move. He's crowded out but Robben picks up the pieces and looks for Muller inside the area. That's a misplaced pass.

Grosskreuz shuffles the ball back to Schmelzer, who appears to be fouled by Mandzukic. Play on, says the referee.

Alaba and Ribery link, and Dortmund put the ball out for a throw. Better from Bayern.

Reus is fouled around halfway, and the ball is played forward quickly. Lahm deals with it.

Martinez plays in Ribery on the left of the area. Hummels makes a superb challenge to shut the door on the Munich winger.

Long from Weidenfeller. Boateng wins the header but is a bit dazed in the challenge with Reus. He'll be alright.

And he is - he's back on his feet as Lahm and Robben link. Schweinsteiger tries to dink one forward, but that's not fooling anyone and Dortmund head clear.

More promising - Muller crosses from the right to win Bayern a corner. What, if anything, can they conjure up here?

It's flicked on and Mandzukic directs it goalwards. Weidenfeller catches.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL: And Bayern have the lead - Robben makes space and crosses into the area. As the ball bobbles, Mandzukic taps home from close range. Breakthrough at Wembley!</b>

The winger did well to get his cross past Weidenfeller, and Mandzukic, lurking four yards out, couldn't miss. Now, what can Dortmund find in response?

The favourites lead at Wembley. Dortmund, through Hummels, play a long ball downfield and Blaszczykowski is thwarted. Bayern break and Mandzukic has a chance to steer the ball in from the right of the area...

Alaba found him, but he was unable to in turn find a colleague. Grosskreuz, at the other end, gets a corner for Dortmund.

Bayern stand firm and, when Blaszczykowski heads the ball back towards the danger zone, the offside flag is up.

Subotic, with an old-fashioned shoulder charge, stops Ribery in his tracks on the Bayern left. The Frenchman is down.

It's fair to say the Bayern man felt the full force of that one.

Ribery is back on his feet and threads a ball towards the Dortmund area. It's cleared, and Piszczek tries to get forward. Who's there to stop him from making something of a ball across the area? Ribery, that's who.

<b>PENALTY TO DORTMUND - Dante, already booked, hits Reus with a high boot. No doubt about that decision.</b>

And no second booking for the Bayern man. Gündogan to take the penalty...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL: He finds the perfect penalty, low into the corner. Superbly done - Dortmund are level!</b>

A textbook penalty, and the yellow half of Wembley explodes into joyous life. The game is well and truly on again.

Lahm motors forward as Bayern respond, and he wins them a corner.

Ribery slips and Dortmund can counter. Blaszczykowski finds space and squares for Hummels, who blazes over the bar from the edge of the area.

Dante heads away as Dortmund play another early ball, steering the ball out for a throw. As Dortmund cross, Neuer is again in the right place to claim.

A shade under 20 minutes of the 90 remaining as Lewandowski almost plays Blaszczykowski in. Ribery clears and Schweinsteiger leads the counter. Muller rounds the 'keeper and crosses to Robben - Subotic produces the most outstanding of clearances, sliding in to deny Bayern what seemed a cast-iron certain 2-1 lead.

On the sidelines, Klopp celebrated that piece of defending as though it were a goal. Great stuff.

Ribery's moaning after a challenge from Grosskreuz, who tells him to get up.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Both are booked - and then Lewandowski volleys home spectacularly. Alas for him, and for Dortmund, the whistle had already gone for a foul.

Dortmund come forward again, and Blaszczykowski has some space if they can find him...

...they do, just outside the area. He shoots low, but it's easily blocked.

Hummels miscues a cross and Alaba fires in an excellent shot. Weidenfeller tips over.

In comes the corner - and out it goes, well cleared. The follow-up cross comes in but Muller can't get to that ahead of Weidenfeller.

This is a really absorbing match. Muller is inside the area but his pass to Mandzukic drives the striker wide and, from a narrow angle, he hits the side netting.

The game is opening up, and these should be thrilling closing stages. Lewandowski pulls out to the left, where Boateng stops him in his tracks. The defender is down, and that may be cramp rather than any result of the challenge.

Actually, it may have been a little stamp to the ankle by Lewandowski - which the referee did not see.

Boateng limps to the sidelines and, as we enter the final ten minutes, Bayern are temporarily down to ten men.

Alaba races forward and tries to cross: he's blocked, though, and Gundogan has possession. Not for long - Ribery for Bayern, feeding Lahm...

Robben tries to make some room, but is unable to. Back come Bayern, with Alaba on the left.

Again, the Dortmund pressure is good, forcing Munich to go backwards in order to try and come forwards.

They do, and a cross comes in for Mandzukic. Piszczek heads away, and this will be a corner.

Weidenfeller gets a good touch, and when the ball comes out to Schweinsteiger on the edge of the box he volleys it in the general direction of the North Circular Road, and quite possibly Neasden.

Dortmund free-kick inside the Bayern area, Lewandowski the man floored. Dortmund are up in numbers again.

Schmelzer takes, Bayern clear. Robben breaks but clearly fouls Gundogan and that's a Dortmund free-kick.

Five minutes remain of the 90. Five minutes until extra-time. Can one of these sides find the strike that would surely now prevent that from happening?

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2013/0525/mariomandzukiccelebvdortmunduclfinal20130525_275x155.jpg">

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2013/0525/ilkaygundoganscorespenvbayernuclfinal20130525_275x155.jpg">

Those are the moments that have left this game beautifully poised a 1-1. As the seconds tick away, Bayern have a throw inside their own half.

Hummels intercepts a Bayern ball, but they win it back and cut it back towards Scweinsteiger. He belts it, and Weidenfeller saves well again.

Mandzukic tries to head the ball back across from the corner, but gets his angles wrong and the ball goes behind for a goal-kick.

Seconds of the 90 minutes as Robben comes forward and gets into the area...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL: And he keeps his head to score, rolling the ball gently beyond Weidenfeller and into the net. Surely that's it for Bayern now?</b>

He rather scuffed it, but the Dortmund 'keeper was helpless. And Robben, who missed a penalty in his side's final defeat to Chelsea last season, surely now has his moment of redemption.

Dortmund cross and Schieber, who has just come on, fires it in low. Neuer holds on. There will be three added minutes at Wembley.

Neuer calmly gathers as the game ticks into its final few seconds. He launches it downfield. A frustrated Lewandowski fouls Martinez. Free-kick to Bayern and that, surely, is that.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Gomez is on for Mandzukic, and Dias for Ribery as Bayern ring late changes.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Schieber for Blaszczykowski and Sahin for Bender were Dortmund's switches.

Seconds to go - the referee has a look a his watch...

<b>And he blows the final whistle - Bayern Munich are the Champions League winners!</b>

A year after their bitter disappointment against Chelsea on their own ground, they are in dreamland.

Dortmund players are on the floor. They have contributed so much to an absorbing, well-balanced final. But it is the joyous, tearful Arjen Robben who has decided matters at Wembley.

Munich's players are leaping around for joy. Klopp consoles his team. Extra time had seemed certain, but Bayern found the intervention that mattered just when they needed it most, and it is they who will be hoisting the trophy shortly.

They can now lift the treble - the German Cup final, Heynckes' final game as Bayern coach, awaits.

Weidenfeller - who, like his Bayern counterpart Neuer made some fine saves - applauds the Dortmund fans. So does Klopp. There are tears, though, inevitably.

The Dortmund players are lined up on the edge of the area in front of their fans, applauding. They are getting a great ovation in return, and they deserve one.

Applauded by their Bayern counterparts, the Dortmund players go up the steps to collect their runners-up medals. There's a chorus of 'Football's Coming Home' from the stands.

And here come Bayern, led by Heynckes. They have erased the memories of last year's shoot-out agony.

<b>Captain Lahm lifts the trophy, the anthem plays, the confetti swirls around. Bayern Munich are the Champions League winners after an excellent, ebb-and-flow Wembley final.</b>

<b>Heynckes lifts the trophy - and how he deserves his moment in the spotlight. A wonderful career, and a wonderful night for the outgoing coach.</b>