Dreaming of Wembley

adidas unveil the Champions League final ball and a design inspired by the 'home of football'.

With the UEFA Champions League returning to the footballing calendar this month, Arsenal, Celtic and Manchester United are among the 16 clubs who will be entering the knockout stages and dreaming of reaching the final at Wembley. That vision can now also become a little more real after adidas this week unveiled the official match ball to commemorate the 2013 final. It has been announced the adidas Finale Wembley will be used on-pitch for the remainder of the season as clubs look ahead to the showpiece event on 25th May. The ball has been designed to celebrate the Champions League finals that have taken place at the 'home of football' over the last 50 years. From the AC Milan team in 1963, Manchester United in 1978, Ajax in 1971 to Liverpool's 1978 side and Barcelona's all-conquering teams in 1992 and 2011, Wembley has born witness to some fantastic teams lifting the European Cup. And the aesthetic of the adidas Finale Wembley ball reflects these events, incorporating the years in which the finals took place into the well-known star panel design - an iconic feature of adidas' official match balls for the competition. The technical graphics and the expressive colour scheme come together to reflect the grandeur of the occasion where this year's winners will be crowned in front of the near 90,000-strong crowd. "adidas has created a ball to celebrate the finals staged at Wembley which, in turn, is a fitting tribute to this season's eventual finalists and a wonderful compliment to what is surely going to be a great occasion," said adidas vice president of global sports marketing football Claus Peter-Mayer said. adidas has a rich history in developing match balls having been the official supplier for all major UEFA and FIFA tournaments since 1970. This year's ball will be the 20th official match ball which adidas has produced for the UEFA Champions League competition. The adidas Finale Wembley will be used on field during UEFA Champions League matches from 12th February and is available for purchase in adidas retail stores and associated stockists as of 1st February. For further information on adidas products and services please visit www.facebook.com/adidasfootball or www.adidasnewsstream.com