That night, German football stood at the top of the world. Bayern became the first German treble winner. Dortmund earned eternal respect. And the 2013 final marked the end of Spain’s European dominance—just as Germany’s national team would go on to win the World Cup a year later.
But for those 90 minutes at Wembley, it was about two clubs, one country, and a story of revenge, youth, and redemption. champions league 12 13
– The Reckoning. Everyone expected a classic. Instead, Bayern annihilated the champions. First leg in Munich: 4–0. Müller, Gómez, Robben, Müller again. Barça’s tiki-taka looked slow, old, helpless. Second leg at Camp Nou: 3–0. Even without Messi starting, Barça couldn’t cope. Ribery and Robben tore them apart on the wings. Total aggregate: 7–0. The greatest team ever? Not that night. Bayern had reached a new level. That night, German football stood at the top of the world
Dortmund landed in the “Group of Death” with Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Ajax. Pundits predicted third place. Instead, Klopp’s men played with reckless joy. At the Bernabéu, they won 2–1. At home, they dismantled City 1–0. They finished top—ahead of José Mourinho’s Madrid. And the 2013 final marked the end of
Barcelona squeezed past PSG on away goals (3–3 agg.), with Messi coming off the bench to change the game. And Real Madrid eliminated Galatasaray after a wild 3–2 win in the Bernabéu.
The last 20 minutes were pure chaos. Neuer saved from Lewandowski with his foot. Robben hit the post. Subasic (on the bench) held his head. Then, – Ribery, on the left, backheeled the ball into Robben’s path. Arjen Robben, the man who had missed the penalty in the 2012 final against Chelsea, ran onto it, rounded Weidenfeller, and slid the ball into the empty net.