If you were hoping for a lineup surprise from Borussia Dortmund, you’re out of luck. Jurgen Klopp is sending his team out in the 4-2-3-1 that everybody expected, with every first teamer out there except for Kevin Krosskreutz, who replaces the injured Mario Gotze, as expected
Champions League final lineup analysis
Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will match 4-2-3-1 formations.
Dortmund has experimented with a 4-3-3 against Bayern Munich in their match-ups earlier this season, but Klopp has decided against it this time around. The change didn't work as Klopp expected, in large part because it was unfamiliar to Dortmund. They often lost their shape and a giant gap between their midfield and defense formed. That negated any advantage Klopp hoped to gain by clogging the middle of the field and minimizing the impact of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez.
The question for Dortmund is whether they try to keep the ball and dictate terms to Bayern. At face, leaning upon their defense and counterattack would be the way forward for BVB, but giving Bayern that kind of space is frightening.
Dortmund had success against Real Madrid in the semifinals by eschewing their strength on the counterattack and pinning the Merengues back. Dortmund could very well take the same approach today, hoping to keep Bayern on their heels, which would keep David Alaba, Philipp Lahm and the central midfield tandem of Schweinsteiger and Martinez from breaking quickly.
While Dortmund have a slew of options, one of which Klopp already made by eschewing the 4-3-3, Bayern didn't have to think very hard about their team and approach. With the exception of choosing Jerome Boateng in the center of defense and Mario Mandzukic up top, Bayern's team essentially chooses itself and their versatility -- which stems from their central midfield -- allows them to play a slew of different ways without any significant alteration of their tactics.
At least from the looks of the lineups, both Klopp and Jupp Heynckes have taken a step back and instead of getting clever, are going to throw their teams out there and play the way they normally do. It's simple, straightforward and a 4-2-3-1 vs. 4-2-3-1 battle. May the best in vogue formation win.
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