Bayern thrilled, Dortmund worried before Euro final

Borussia Dortmund must wait on Mats Hummels' ankle injury for next Saturday's Champions League final, while Wembley opponent Bayern Munich finished the Bundesliga season with a seven-goal thriller.

Centerback Hummels is an injury doubt for the London final after damaging ankle ligaments in Dortmund's shock 2-1 Bundesliga defeat at home to Hoffenheim on Saturday.

The centerback picked up the injury in the process of fouling Hoffenheim's Kevin Volland in the area, which led to the first of Sejad Salihovic's two penalties in the last 13 minutes.

Hummels limped off on 77 minutes, was taken to hospital and Dortmund is waiting to discover the extent of the damage.

"He went over on it, which rarely means there is good news," said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp. "The ankle looks thick, but with a view for the final, there is definitely a chance he can play, according to the team doctor."

There was some good news for Dortmund on Saturday as midfielder Mario Goetze told German daily Bild his hamstring injury is healing well and he is positive of his chances of playing at Wembley.

But Klopp was far from happy as the side likely to start at Wembley failed to take its chances against Hoffenheim.

"We played great football for the first hour, but we didn't take our chances," he said after his team was denied a late equalizer by Marcel Schmelzer which the referee ruled offside.

"The penalties were no problem, but I can't say anything about the goal for 2-2 which wasn't given.

"We can draw a thick line under the Bundesliga season and we just want to see who we have fit now for Wembley."

Dortmund and Bayern fielded teams likely to start at Wembley, with differing results.

Having lifted the German league shield last weekend, Bayern came from two goals down to secure a 4-3 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach with France wing Franck Ribery scoring twice and creating the other goals.

The champion dug deep for its 29th league victory in 34 matches as Dutch wing Arjen Robben hit the second-half winner after Gladbach had scored three goals in the opening 10 minutes.

"We have seen from the result in Dortmund, that you cannot rule it out that minds are already thinking about the final," said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes.

"I certainly saw that with my team. Everything revolves around the final. It was important for us to win today and maintain self-confidence. Gladbach caught us out, they have a good system, a good counter-attack and they press well, they were a decent opponent to practice for Wembley."

(China Daily 05/20/2013 page23)