Champions League Final Preview

Die Deutschen sind Wembley Heimkehr! This weekend finally sees the much-anticipated Champions League Final clash between Germany's two finest clubs at the moment.

Once again, German football has another proud day at English expense, with the aristocrats from Bayern (Bayern Munich) taking on the miners from the Ruhr (Borussia Dortmund). Of course, both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have evolved from their traditional roots to have a very big group of supporters from all walks of society, the rivalry is still very much there.

More of this, this weekend?

It is not the first time that these two German giants have taken on each other in the Champions League - Borussia Dortmund eliminated Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals in 1998 by a single goal to Swiss striker, Stephane Chapuisat. However, it has been a while since the Northerners have been able to match the might of the South in Europe - the last time they could, current Villa manager, Paul Lambert was anchoring the midfield with playmaker, Andreas Moller pulling the strings for the yellow and blacks as they shocked Zinedine Zidane's Juventus en route to winning their first and only European trophy in 1997 in Munich.

With a younger but equally talented lineup of players, Jurgen Klopp hopes to repeat that shock against the runaway German champions at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night and ruin Jupp Heynecke's ultimate farewell party. And this victory for the Dortmunders will probably be sweeter than in 1997.

However, they'll have to do it without Mario Goetze whose transfer to Bayern Munich before next season will have ruffled feathers in the Ruhr Valley. Goetze has struggled to recover from an injury sustained against Real Madrid in the semifinals last month meaning the Final will lose a bit of spice.

Goetze or not, Dortmund still have a lot of young flair and Marco Reus and Kevin Grosskeutz will have more of the playmaking abilities against Bayern  - despite losing Shinji Kagawa to United last season, Dortmund are still brimming with playmakers with Nuri Sahin also available. Then, there's Robert Lewandowski, probably the 2nd most wanted striker in Europe after Radamel Falcao.

However, Bayern do have the experience and history to back them up and after the disappointment of last season where they choked in last year's final right in front of their home fans and city, they will be motivated to show to right where they went wrong. And given the 20 point buffer they finished over Dortmund in the Bundesliga, they want to ensure that their superiority in the league is shown in Europe.

Only, Pep Guardiola will be disadvantaged if you can call it that, if Bayern Munich win the Champions League - he will be under more pressure to replicate what has already been a fine season for the Bavarians.

Prediction? All-country finals bar Spain's one (Real Madrid beat Valencia 3-0 in Paris in 2000) have ended in penalty shootouts. Dortmund and Bayern played out two draws in the Bundesliga this year and know each other well.

1-1 draw with Bayern's keeper the hero.