Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund: Plenty of entertaining soccer after 30 minutes
As we reach the half hour mark of the Champions League final it’s all Borussia Dortmund everywhere except the scoreboard. If not for some excellent goalkeeping the “underdogs” could have very well been up by a goal or two.
Marco Reus got free in the 19th minute, showing his speed and quickness on a counter attack out of nowhere, but his shot from just on the edge of the Bayern area was parried away by Manuel Neuer. Three minutes later Dortmund were back again as Kevin Grosskreutz chased down a deflected ball into the left corner and centered back to Sven Bender for a low shot toward the far post that Neuer was able to smother.
Franck Ribery got away with what appeared to be an intentional shot on Robert Lewandowski’s face in the 24th minute but the referee either missed the call or interpreted the play differently.
Bayern finally awoke in the 26th minute when Mario Mandzukic’s header from close range was kept out by a wonderful reaction save from Roman Weidenfeller. On the ensuring corner, Javi Martinez got free but his header spun over the bar into the top netting.
Arjen Robben caught Dortmund napping in the 30th minute, getting behind the defense and breaking in alone against Weidenfeller. Robben looked to have the space to round the goalkeeper but instead he tried to force the ball past Weidenfeller, who’d charged off his line to make the important save.
At this point the biggest fear for Dortmund is a crack in their dominating midfield work allowing Bayern to steal a completely undeserved goal.
