FC Bayern face Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday in European club football’s most important game. While it’s the Parisians’ first time in the Champions League final, the team from Munich have much more experience. In total (including the European Cup), it’s FCB’s 11th time battling for the famous trophy, and their fifth since the competition was reformed as the Champions League in 1992. Two legendary triumphs, three painful defeats – and plenty of drama. fcbayern.com looks back.
2013 – Bayern fulfil treble dream against BVB
On 25 May 2013, there was the first all-German final in the Champions League as FCB and Borussia Dortmund faced off. After some early struggles, the Reds grew into the game and took the lead on the hour mark through Mario Mandžukić. Their joy lasted just seven minutes, though, with Ilkay Gündogan levelling from the penalty spot. Then in the 89th minute, came the moment that still gives every Bayern fan goosebumps. A long ball from Jérôme Boateng found Franck Ribéry, the Frenchman flicked the ball onto Arjen Robben, who rolled the ball past the onrushing Roman Weidenfeller. Bayern won 2-1, and were finally kings of Europe again!
2012 – Heartbreak in ‘Finale dahoam’
One of the biggest matches in the club’s history ended in one of the most painful defeats. On 19 May 2012, FC Bayern met Chelsea in the Champions League final. It was the first time in the history of the competition that a team was playing in a final held at their own stadium. Bayern dominated at the Allianz Arena in every respect, and thought they’d finally been rewarded when Thomas Müller headed home in the 83rd minute, only for Didier Drogba to equalise two minutes before time. Robben had the chance to restore Bayern’s lead from the penalty spot in extra time but missed. The penalty shootout initially went well for FCB, who led 3-2 after three kicks. However, the tide turned again and Drogba scored the decisive penalty to make it 5-4.
2010 – Beaten by Inter in Madrid
In 2010, Bayern were on the verge of completing the treble of the Bundesliga, DFB Cup and Champions League. Following their domestic successes, it came down to the final against Inter Milan in Madrid. Despite having more of the play, Bayern failed to convert their chances into goals against the defensive masters from Italy. Inter, on the other hand, had a clinical goalscorer in Diego Milito, who settled the game with goals in each half. Despite the defeat, it was a hint of what was to come in Europe for the young side that coach Louis van Gaal had built.
2001 – Back on Europe’s throne
In 2001, Bayern finally got to celebrate another triumph in Europe’s biggest club competition and lift the famous handles of the trophy in the air. The final against Valencia couldn’t have started much worse for Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side, with the Spaniards taking the lead through a penalty after just two minutes and Mehmet Scholl then missing a spot-kick three minutes later. But Bayern didn’t let it get them down and eventually equalised through Stefan Effenberg in the 53rd minute. The score stayed at 1-1 and the 2001 UCL crown had to be decided by a penalty shootout, where Oliver Kahn stepped up to become the hero. After ‘the Titan’ had already saved two efforts, Thomas Linke put FCB in front and then it was left for Kahn to clinch victory, diving the right way and saving from Mauricio Pellegrino before the three-time ‘World’s Best Goalkeeper’ burst into an unforgettable celebratory run.
1999 – The mother of all final defeats
The night in Barcelona that could have been so wonderful. Hopes were high when Mario Basler gave Bayern the lead with a free-kick after just six minutes, and FCB were largely in control for the rest of this Champions League final against Manchester United. But 102 seconds at the end changed everything, and things looked very different in the Munich world. The game was already into stoppage time when Teddy Sheringham diverted Ryan Giggs’ shot into the net from the six-yard line, but that wasn’t the end of it. Not two minutes later, David Beckham’s corner found Sheringham, whose flick on was prodded in by the foot of current United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær. Kahn could do nothing about it and suddenly it was 2-1 to the English side. The final whistle sounded seconds later and Bayern suffered one of the most bitter moments in the club’s history.
FC Bayern have enjoyed 10 wins in 10 games on their way to this year’s final – a record! Here are their steps so far on #MissionLis6on:
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