FUSSBALL, bloody hell.

Germany's status as an emerging superpower of European and world football was underlined last night when Arjen Robben's winner in the last minute of regulation play settled what was an uber final at Wembley between Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

Chancellor Angela Merkel must have approved as she watched her beloved Bayern crowned the best team in Europe for only the fifth time in their history, and the first time in 12 years, as they banished the memories of last year's agonising loss on home turf to Chelsea.

Jurgen Klopp, the charismatic Borussia Dortmund coach, had made great play of the difference between Borussia the club and Bayern the corporation. But Bayern's mission statement is winning, and as far as the Champions League is concerned, this was unfinished business.

A special ovation was reserved for Klopp's opposite number Jupp Heynckes, the 66-year-old now the owner of the bizarre distinction of having won the Champions League twice with different clubs, only to be seeking alternative employment immediately afterwards.

A 90,000-odd invasion force alighted in London for the day, assured of a third German winner of the Champions League, in the fourth final in history contested by teams from the same country. These two already had one each on their resumé, Dortmund in 1997 (in Munich) and Munich in 2011, both delivered by the same man, Ottmar Hitzfeld.

Given the Bavarian hold over this competition's predecessor from 1974 to 1976, this seemed a poor return from Munich in particular. Recent decades have seen Bayern develop a habit of losing European finals, including ones they have dominated.

Even before last year's disaster at the Allianz Arena, there were those miraculous late goals for Manchester United back in 1999, as well as defeats to Porto and Aston Villa.

Both sets of fans produced a sense-numbing riot of colour and noise, and both teams were equally determined to put on a show. They lined up in almost identical 4-2-3-1 formations, but rather than nullify each other, this became a platform to work the opposing goalkeeper. Bayern were unbeaten in all four previous meetings this season, and finished the Bundesliga with a 25-point advantage, but the ferocity of Dortmund's early pressing game had them gasping for air.

Manuel Neuer kept his wits about him early on to tip over an effort from Robert Lewandowski, a man into double figures in the competition already and who may well be a team-mate at the Allianz Arena next season.With Ilkay Gundogan and Marco Reus prominent, fine work from those two led to a low finish from Jakub Blaszczykowski which the goalkeeper kicked clear, then the quicksilver Reus stung his palms with a drive from distance.

Lars Bender forced another save, before Neuer narrowed the angle expertly to defy another Lewandowski shot from an angle. Munich steadied their nerves, waited for Dortmund to take a breather, then went for the jugular. Mario Mandzukic's header from a delicious Franck Ribery cross forced Roman Weidenfeller to tip on to the bar, then the keeper did even better when Thomas Muller's prodded pass presented Robben with a run on goal.

This match, though, would finally see the Dutchman put his habit of blowing huge chances in epic matches to bed. While the stadium paused for breath at half-time, flares in the Bayern end indicated growing Bavarian confidence and that emotion proved well-founded on the hour.

Ribery, Muller and Robben were growing in influence and when Robben manouvered beyond Weidenfeller and cut the ball back, Mandzukic carefully cushioned the ball in. The Bayern end erupted in relief at the efficiency of their counter-attack mode, but Klopp has managed to instil unquenchable belief into his side and soon a Bayern mis-step would see them draw level.

Dante misjudged a clearance on Reus and only succeeded in volleying his former Borussia Moenchengladbach team-mate in the bread basket.

It really would have been a kick in the guts for Bayern if Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli had deemed it worthy of a second yellow card for the Brazilian, but it was bad enough when Gundogan wrongfooted Neuer effortlessly from the spot.

Now it should have been Bayern's turn to buckle, but instead they cranked back into top gear. It took an extraordinary Neven Subotic clearance to defy them when Muller had rounded Weidenfeller, but their superiority told in the dying seconds when Ribery's backheel found Robben, who banished the memory of costly misses in the World Cup final and in last year's Champions League by guiding in the goal which brought fussball back home to Munich.