18 Yard Box has a look at the top 8 influential players on the pitch
The stage is set for an exhilarating season finale of
the UEFA Champions League as both teams prepare to pip their German
counterparts to the coveted crown.A match of such high calibre and expectations
will be decided by the performance put up by the players on the pitch and
anything less than a world-class performance from either set of players will
leave them short on glory.
18YB
analyses the key players who might be influential in this highly anticipated final.
Borussia
Dortmund
Marco Reus
The clinical 23-yr old German forward has been instrumental in Dortmund’s
success throughout this season and he will be left with a major role to play in
Dortmund’s attacking play. After playmaker Gotze had been ruled out of the
final, Reus’ support-striker role will
be more essential now .He might be the key to Dortmund’s success.
Robert
Lewandowski
Having thumped 4 goals past a gritty Real Madrid side,
Robert Lewandowski has shot to fame there on and his conversion skills will be
put to test against the best defence of Europe. The Polish International is
good in the air and can punish any defence in his best day with his clinical
finishing. The talismanic striker who
has been linked to a move to the Bundesliga rivals might as well give Dortmund
a farewell gift by scoring crucial goals.
Ilkay
Gundogan
The 22-yr old German international of Turkish decent
is the orchestrator of Dortmund’s midfield and he is one of the prime figures
of the final. Gundogan has been impressive throughout this season playing as a
holding midfielder and extending the play to the strikers ahead of him. The
extremely versatile, two-footed player has been critical against Real Madrid
marking Xabi Alonso and preventing him from threading any move.
Mats Hummels
If Dortmund were to win this match, they need to
neutralise Bayern’s attacking football and Mats Hummels would be the right man
to do the job. Hummels, rated as one of the best defenders in recent times, is
a rock at the heart of Dortmund’s defence and his presence in the back four
will be detrimental to their success. Having averted countless attacks from
Madrid in the past games with his rock-solid defending but conceding a simple
goal through a mistake against Madrid, Hummels needs to up his game and deliver
his best to see Dortmund through the end.
Bayern
Munich
Franck
Ribery
Ribery, hailed as the next ‘Zinedene Zidane’, has been
outstanding throughout the season, creating goals and scoring goals at will. Ribery
played a key role against Barcelona in the semi-final and played a huge hand in
demolishing the opposition defence. Setting up at least 3 of the 7 goals that
they scored across two legs, Ribery would be the man to watch out for.
Bastian
Schweinsteiger
Schweinsteiger has been the engine of Bayern Munich
and his stern presence in the heart of midfield has been a key to Bayern
Munich’s success in the Bundesliga as well as UCL. Schweinsteiger’s role in
blocking every pass to Lionel Messi and to orchestrate each and every attacking
move was instrumental in Bayern’s huge success over Barcelona.
Phillip
Lahm
The 29-yr old German full-back has been undoubtedly
the best right back in recent times. Good at both defending and attacking, the
Bayern Munich captain was very impressive in this season, more so against
Barcelona, preventing Andres Iniesta for threading any dangerous move and
pushing him out of his comfort zone. If Bayern Munich were to break the jinx of
final failures, they need their captain to deliver his level best.
Arjen
Robben
When it comes to dribbling past defenders and scoring
goals, Arjen Robben is as devastating as anyone else in the football world. After
having a rather dull Euro 2012, it has been a roller-coaster ride for Robben
this season, scoring 14 goals and assisting another 11. Robben’s partnership
with Ribery in opposite flanks have wrecked havoc in opposition defence and
Bayern Munich manager, Juup Heynckes would be relying on the highly rated
wingers to do the job.
Other stars like Muller, Neuer and Subotic to name a few will also be looking to leave their mark in this game. It all remains to be seen as to who is the last man standing.
Written by,
Rishav Ghosh
Writer for 18 Yard Box.
Want to get to know what the tactics for this game would be? Read the Talking Tactics
Want to know where the game could be won or lost? Read the Player Battles.
Want to get to know what the tactics for this game would be? Read the Talking Tactics
Want to know where the game could be won or lost? Read the Player Battles.
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