A late Arjen Robben winner earned Bayern Munich the Champions League title with a 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in an enthralling and action-packed contest on Saturday.
A captivating yet goalless first half at Wembley saw both Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and his Dortmund counterpart Roman Weidenfeller make a series of excellent saves.
The deadlock was finally broken on the hour mark as Robben drew Weidenfeller to the touchline before cutting the ball back across the box for Mario Mandžukić to tap home.
But Jürgen Klopp's men responded soon after with İlkay Gündoğan leveling from the penalty spot following Dante's clumsy lunge on Marco Reus inside the box.
Bayern looked certain to regain the lead in the 71st minute after a fine cross by Thomas Müller found Robben waiting to tap into an empty net at the far post, but somehow, Neven Subotić kept up to make a miraculous goalline clearance.
And just when the game looked certain to go into extra time, a smart back-heel from Franck Ribéry allowed Robben to split the Dortmund defense, beat the challenge of Mats Hummels before rolling the ball past Weidenfeller.
Having missed a penalty in last season's final defeat by Chelsea after also losing the 2010 final to Inter Milan, the match-winning contribution was redemption for Robben.
The Dutchman told Sky Sports: "There are so many emotions, especially where we came from last year and such a disappointment.
"The last four years, Bayern have been in the final three times. It needed to happen but you still have to do it.
"It is a special feeling. You cannot describe it. Everything is going through your mind. It is hard to say but you do not want to be a loser."
Dortmund's second Champions League final ended in defeat, but a rueful Klopp was convinced that his side could triumph in the competition first won by the club in 1997 in the future.
He said: "I've told the players that we will come back - maybe not to Wembley but we will try to come back to another final. That's what I told them.
"Congratulations to Bayern and Jupp (Heynkes) - you can't begrudge him the win.
"We were right in it but at the end, everything came together for Bayern and they won the game."
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| Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm lifts the trophy after winning the Champions League Final Photo: AFP/Getty Images |
A captivating yet goalless first half at Wembley saw both Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and his Dortmund counterpart Roman Weidenfeller make a series of excellent saves.
The deadlock was finally broken on the hour mark as Robben drew Weidenfeller to the touchline before cutting the ball back across the box for Mario Mandžukić to tap home.
But Jürgen Klopp's men responded soon after with İlkay Gündoğan leveling from the penalty spot following Dante's clumsy lunge on Marco Reus inside the box.
Bayern looked certain to regain the lead in the 71st minute after a fine cross by Thomas Müller found Robben waiting to tap into an empty net at the far post, but somehow, Neven Subotić kept up to make a miraculous goalline clearance.
And just when the game looked certain to go into extra time, a smart back-heel from Franck Ribéry allowed Robben to split the Dortmund defense, beat the challenge of Mats Hummels before rolling the ball past Weidenfeller.
 | |
| Bayern Munich player Arjen Robben scores the winner in the Champions League Final Photo: Reuters |
Having missed a penalty in last season's final defeat by Chelsea after also losing the 2010 final to Inter Milan, the match-winning contribution was redemption for Robben.
The Dutchman told Sky Sports: "There are so many emotions, especially where we came from last year and such a disappointment.
"The last four years, Bayern have been in the final three times. It needed to happen but you still have to do it.
"It is a special feeling. You cannot describe it. Everything is going through your mind. It is hard to say but you do not want to be a loser."
Dortmund's second Champions League final ended in defeat, but a rueful Klopp was convinced that his side could triumph in the competition first won by the club in 1997 in the future.
He said: "I've told the players that we will come back - maybe not to Wembley but we will try to come back to another final. That's what I told them.
"Congratulations to Bayern and Jupp (Heynkes) - you can't begrudge him the win.
"We were right in it but at the end, everything came together for Bayern and they won the game."
