Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich preview - Weidenfeller draws on 1997 triumph

Posted Friday, May 24, 2013 by PA

Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller has called on his side to go down in history like the 1997 team by upsetting the odds to win the Champions League.

Dortmund are the underdogs for Saturday's meeting with Bayern Munich at Wembley, just as they were when Ottmar Hitzfeld's side beat defending champions Juventus 3-1 to win the title 16 years ago.

The 32-year-old, dubbed the 'best non-international goalkeeper' by the German media, said in an interview with Kicker magazine: "Everyone still speaks today with unbelievable admiration about the '97 team.

"Should we now also succeed in lifting the trophy in London, we would probably achieve a similar status.

"Champions League winners - that would be the best for the club and for us."

Weidenfeller, who was in brilliant form in the semi-final second leg against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, is expected to be in for a busy night at Wembley but claims he is ready for anything Bayern throw at him.

"We have extensive video material," he added. "And moreover we know Bayern. No matter what happens in the final, nothing can surprise us."

Dortmund will be without their Bayern-bound playmaker Mario Gotze through a hamstring injury, but Weidenfeller knows the team can cope without him.

"It goes without saying that with him we have a different quality," he said. "(But) everything shouldn't rest on him. In the DFB-Pokal final in 2012 Mario also didn't play."

On that occasion, Dortmund ran out 5-2 winners against Bayern with the help of a Robert Lewandowski hat-trick.

Gotze said in a statement on Dortmund's official website: "The final was my big goal and in the past weeks I have battled hard for it.

"I am unbelievably sorry that I will not be able to help the team in this important match.

"I have huge belief in our team and will naturally travel with them to London to endeavour to support the lads off the pitch."

Kevin Grosskreutz was the man who replaced Gotze at the Bernabeu and either he or Nuri Sahin would appear to be the most likely candidates to stand in for him at Wembley.

Meanwhile, Franck Ribery cannot bear to contemplate losing a third Champions League final with Bayern Munich.

The France winger will take to the Wembley pitch determined to finally create some happy memories of the fixture.

Twelve months ago Ribery was in the Bayern team beaten on penalties by Chelsea in their own Allianz Arena stadium and two years before that he had to watch on, suspended, as they lost to Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan.

"I have won everything with Bayern, only this title is missing," the three-time Bundesliga winner said on the club website.

"We have to win for this club, these fans, this team."

Ribery revealed the pain of missing out on the final against Inter after being banned following his dismissal in the semi-final against with Lyon.

"That was hard, if you don't play you are sad," he said.

Against Chelsea he was taken off in extra time after picking up an injury, so did not get a chance to take a penalty.

"That hurt. That was a shock for all of us," he said.

Bayern are favourites to win on Saturday after storming to the Bundesliga title, and also have a DFB-Pokal final against Stuttgart to come as they seek a treble.

Bayern defender Holger Badstuber has been ruled out for 10 months after having his cruciate ligament in his right knee removed, making him a doubt for next summer's World Cup.