Bayern Munich vs. Dortmund: Key Players Who Will Decide Champions League Final

Last season, Chelsea completed a miracle run to the Champions League final. There were no such underdog stories this time around. Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund were quickly established as title contenders and will now battle for the coveted trophy.

The German rivals both earned their championship match spots with semifinal victories over La Liga powerhouses. Bayern crushed Barcelona by an aggregate score of 7-0, while Dortmund survived a comeback bid by Real Madrid, 4-3.

It will mark the fifth meeting of the campaign between the Bundesliga sides. Bayern is unbeaten in those matches. Let's examine the most important player from each club. They will have a major impact on deciding whether FCB's dominance continues or Dortmund pulls off the upset.

Bayern Munich: Thomas Muller

Muller is the main reason Bayern are playing for the title. He was virtually unstoppable against Barcelona, scoring three goals over the two legs. His ability to put relentless pressure on the Barca back line caused it to wear down and then the floodgates opened for the Bundesliga champions.

What makes the 23-year-old attacking midfielder special is his unique approach. At times, it's a bit unorthodox, but he uses a combination of creativity, vision and a nearly unmatched work rate to create chances for both himself and teammates.

There are certain stars who always appear like they playing the match a couple steps ahead of everyone else. He's one of them. He can drive toward the box with what seems like reckless abandon, and in the blink of an eye, the ball is in the net.

He creates, while others react. That split-second difference is what makes him so dangerous heading into the final. It only takes a single defensive lapse from Dortmund for Muller to completely change the course of the match.

The German international has been in fine form lately, netting four goals over his past five appearances. Expect him to get plenty of touches in the first half as Bayern makes him the focal point of the attack. From there, they hope he creates his usual magic.

Borussia Dortmund: Robert Lewandowski

In many ways, Lewandowski is built from the same mold as Muller—somebody without extraordinary natural gifts, but he built himself into a vital asset for Dortmund through hard work and a tremendous finishing touch.

Look no further than his four-goal outburst against Real Madrid in the semifinals. The Blancos didn't pay nearly enough attention to him early. He built up momentum and had so much confidence by the second half that the defenders were powerless to stop him.

Dortmund are going to need a similar effort from him in the final. They will be without superstar midfielder Mario Gotze, who was ruled out due to injury. His absence is going to leave a void in the attack that must be covered.

Lewandowski has only scored once in four meeting with Bayern this season. That's mostly because FCB understands exactly how critical he is to Dortmund's success. The Polish star must find a way to produce despite the added attention.

Bayern's advantage in the midfield should allow them to create more chances. That means the ones the Dortmund midfielders are able to generate for Lewandowski need to get converted if they want to pull off the upset and capture the trophy.