Champions League final rehearsal ends in feisty stalemate

 
Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich battled to a 1-1 draw Saturday in a feisty rehearsal for their May 25 showdown at Wembley.

The draw ended Bayern's 14-game winning run in the Bundesliga and they finished the match with 10 men after Rafinha was sent off with 25 minutes remaining at Dortmund's Signal Iguna Park.

Bayern -- who stayed 20 points clear of their arch-rivals -- have already clinched the German title so there was only pride and the small matter of bragging rights ahead of final at stake for both sides.

Both fielded below strength starting line-ups, but the 80,665 who were crammed into Dortmund's atmospheric stadium saw a full-blooded encounter.

Juergen Klopp's home side went ahead through a stunning volley from Kevin Grosskreutz after 11 minutes.

But Bayern striker Mario Gomez equalized midway through the first half after being left alone at the far post.

In the second half, Dortmund won a penalty as Bayern central defender Jerome Boateng handled in the area.

Robert Lewandowski, who scored four goals in their Champions League semifinal first leg against Real Madrid, stepped up to take the kick and saw his effort brilliantly saved by Manuel Neuer.

Rafinha was then given his marching orders for elbowing Dortmund midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski, leading to a heated exchange between Klopp and Bayern's sports director Matthias Sammer.

"No one came here thinking it would be a friendly," Klopp said after the game.

A man short, Bayern survived to the end despite a few scares.

They will play Augsburg next Saturday in their final home game where the Bundesliga shield will be presented.

Neuer, the stand-in captain for the day, was delighted they had survived the Dortmund test, thanks in good part to his penalty stop.

"That was a challenge where they met us eye-to-eye," he said. "It was a great game, even though there isn't much on it."

In other notable Bundesliga action, third-placed Bayer Leverkusen clinched automatic qualification for the Champions League with a 2-0 win at Nuremberg.

Schalke 04 scored a 1-0 victory at Borussia Moenchengladbach Friday to stay fourth in the hunt for European spots.

Dortmund's Champions League victims Real Madrid kept the Spanish title race alive for another week at least with a thrilling 4-3 home win over Valladolid.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice for Real after Oscar Gonzalez had given the visitors an early lead in the Bernabeu.

Oscar scored a late third for the visitors but Jose Mourinho's men held on for three points which leaves them eight points adrift of champions elect Barcelona, who cannot now clinch the championship in their home game against Real Betis Sunday.

I thing that a lot of supporters from Dormund and Bayern are wating for 25 of May because this day are the final. 

Well, I'm not a suporter from Dormund or Bayern but I prefer that Bayern win the league.