Sky Sports examines Champions League finalists Bayern Munich ahead of Saturday.
For the first time in five years, two teams from the same country will contest the UEFA Champions League final with Wembley welcoming Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
Both teams have turned heads throughout the tournament, leaving the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona in their wake but it is the German champions, Bayern, who come into the game as favourites to take the crown.
Jupp Heynckes' side were beaten finalists last year after a penalty shoot-out defeat to Chelsea and they'll be hoping to finally get their hands on the trophy they've been so close to winning in recent years. Sky Sports has taken a look at what to expect from Bayern.
The boss
Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes is in his third spell in charge of the German champions, with Saturday's UEFA Champions League final set to be his last game in management before he retires and Pep Guardiola takes the reins. He's already lifted the Champions League trophy with Real Madrid in 1998 but he'll be hoping to make amends for last year's defeat to Chelsea with a win at Wembley. Following his return to the Allianz Arena, Heynckes has helped to further establish Bayern as one of Europe's strongest forces, managing to find what appears to be the perfect balance between youth and experience. His physical yet clinical style of football has drawn similarities to the German national team which is perhaps one of the reasons why he's enjoyed success with a core of German internationals.
The story so far
Bayern's campaign got off to the best possible start after a 2-1 win over Valencia but a 3-1 defeat in Belarus to BATE Borisov threatened to put their progression in jeopardy. Back-to-back wins over Lille, followed by a 1-1 draw in Valencia and a 4-1 win at home over BATE Borisov made sure they finished top of Group F and secured a last-16 date with Arsenal. A classy first-leg performance saw them ease past the Gunners with a 3-1 win at the Emirates and, despite losing the return game 2-0, away goals sent them through. They then beat Juventus 2-0 home and away in the quarter-finals before brushing aside Barcelona with one of the performances of the tournament. Bayern were 4-0 winners at home before a 3-0 win in the Nou Camp secured an impressive 7-0 aggregate win. For Bayern's full road to Wembley,
click here.
| Champions League 12/13 |
Bayern Munich |
| Games Played |
12 |
| Goal Attempts |
|
| Goals |
29 |
| Ave Goals per game |
2.42 |
| Shots (excl blocked shots) |
157 |
| % Shots on Target |
48% |
| % Goals to Shots |
18% |
| Passing |
|
| Short Passes |
5,474 |
| Long Passes |
704 |
| Overall Pass Completion % |
85% |
| Duels |
|
| Duels |
1274 |
| Duels won % |
53% |
| Crossing |
|
| Total Crosses |
312 |
| Cross Completion % |
21% |
| Defending |
|
| Goals Conceded |
10 |
| Ave goals conceded per game |
0.83 |
| Tackles |
245 |
| Tackles Won % |
79% |
| Blocks, Clearances & Interceptions |
492 |
| Discipline |
|
| Fouls |
167 |
| Yellow Cards |
28 |
| Red Cards |
1 |
|
Secret to success
The glory story of Bayern Munich started with Uli Hoeness ending his playing career to become general manager in 1979 at the age of just 27. When he began his job, the club had an annual turnover of 12million Deutsche Mark. When he ended his spell to become chairman of the club in late 2009, the club had an annual turnover of €303million. Hoeness always remained the main driving force behind all those financial and sporting successes over those decades. The former Germany international was also a main influence behind the recent changes of manager and executive director. Ten years ago, the Allianz-Arena was also built for in the region of €340 million. Both decisions have been identified mainly as the ideas of Hoeness.
What they say
Jupp Heynckes
"We have been playing extraordinary football for the entire season now. We have a fantastic team and the players get along great together, both on and off the pitch. Falling short of success in the past two years has only made them hungrier to win this year."
Thomas Muller
"If we lose, it will be three times and then you get sort of stuck with a 'loser' tag which is something you do not want. There is a lot of spice in this game and I like spice and I like that we play against Dortmund because there is even more passion in there."
Arjen Robben
"When we are on the field this week, we must not start doing things differently. We shouldn't go to bed earlier, eat differently. We just have to do precisely the same things we've been doing all season, because we were very successful."
Key men
Thomas Muller
The German winger is Bayern's top scorer in this season's tournament with eight goals to his name. He netted three times over the two fixtures against Barcelona and is an integral part of any Bayern attacks while also not being shy to help out when required defensively.
Manuel Neuer
Neuer has established himself as one of the finest goalkeepers in world football and he's been ever present between the sticks for Bayern throughout the competition. The 27-year-old showed nerves of steel to dispatch a penalty in last year's final shootout after saving Juan Mata's effort.
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Having moved from the wing into the centre of midfield in recent years, Schweinsteiger has adapted his game to become Bayern's engine. His range of passing is up there with the best in the world as he demonstrated with a commanding display in the demolition of Barcelona.
