Uefa: Champions League 2012/13

It was a moment of pure catharsis. Robben fell to his knees; Bayern had their "Triple" (they would go on to win the domestic double), and the demons of 2012 were banished.

The Pinnacle of German Football: A Review of the UEFA Champions League 2012/13 uefa champions league 2012/13

The group stage saw familiar powers advance, but the narrative began to shift in the knockout rounds. Defending champions were unceremoniously dumped out in the group stage—the first title-holder to suffer that fate. Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund , managed by a young Jürgen Klopp, announced themselves to the world with a swashbuckling style, scoring freely and topping a "Group of Death" that included Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Ajax. It was a moment of pure catharsis

For 60 minutes, the match was a chaotic, end-to-end spectacle, defying the tactical chess matches often seen in modern finals. Dortmund, playing with youthful fearlessness, created chance after chance, with Manuel Neuer producing a string of world-class saves to keep Bayern in the game. Defending champions were unceremoniously dumped out in the