2013 UEFA Champions League Final

Lore & Background

This was the first time in the history of the Champions League (and European Cup) that the final was contested between two German sides. There were three previous Champions League finals between two clubs from the same country: 2000 (Spain), 2003 (Italy), and 2008 (England). It was Bayern Munich's 10th European Cup/Champions League final, third all-time behind Real Madrid (12) and A.C. Milan (11). They won four of those finals: in 1974, 1975, 1976, and most recently in 2001. The 2013 final was Bayern's third final in four years; they lost in both 2010 and 2012 (as the first team since 1984 to reach the Final held in their home stadium), adding to previous final losses in 1982, 1987, and 1999. For Dortmund, this was their second Champions League final, with them winning their first title in 1997.

In Their Own Story

The clock bled past ninety minutes at Wembley, the London air thick with a suffocating tension as two exhausted German giants stared down another hour of attrition. Bayern had led; Dortmund had equalized. The match hung in a delicate balance until the 89th minute. Arjen Robben, introduced earlier in the second half to inject fresh legs, found himself isolated on the right flank. He cut inside, his eyes locked on Neuer's goal, and unleashed a curling left-footed shot that nestled into the far corner. The ball hit the net, silencing the away support instantly while igniting a roar from the Bavarian faithful that seemed to shake the stadium's very arches. It was the moment of redemption, turning years of near-misses into eternal glory.

Reader's Guide

The match took place at Wembley Stadium, England's national stadium, which was announced as the venue on 16 June 2011. Having hosted the 2011 final, Wembley made history for being the first stadium in the tournament's history to host the final twice in three years. The match ball was the Adidas Finale Wembley, unveiled on 30 January 2013. Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli supervised the final, with compatriots as assistants and additional assistants, and Slovenian Damir Skomina as fourth official. The opening ceremony was directed by Hamish Jenkinson and Jonny Grant, and produced by Films United, directed and produced by Grigorij Richters and Alex Souabni.

Did You Know?

• The match ended 2–1 in regular time, with Arjen Robben scoring the winner in the 89th minute.
• İlkay Gündoğan equalized for Dortmund with a penalty, not a header.
• Mario Mandžukić scored in the 60th minute, not the 6th minute, and with a left-footed finish, not a header.
• Bayern completed the continental treble by also winning the 2012–13 DFB-Pokal and the 2012–13 Bundesliga.
• A viewership of 21.6 million on German ZDF and over 360 million worldwide was reported, making it the most watched sports broadcast of 2013.