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Borussia Dortmund Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Historic UEFA Champions League Victory

Dortmund Defeats Juventus 3-1 to Claim First German Triumph

May 28, 1997: A Night to Remember for German Football

Twenty years ago today, Borussia Dortmund etched its name into the annals of football history by becoming the first German club to win the UEFA Champions League. In a thrilling final played at the Olympiastadion in Munich, Dortmund defeated Juventus of Italy 3-1 to claim the coveted trophy.

Karl-Heinz Riedle opened the scoring for Dortmund in the 29th minute, pouncing on a rebound after a shot from Lars Ricken. Ricken then doubled Dortmund's lead just minutes later with a powerful strike from outside the box. Alessandro Del Piero pulled one back for Juventus in the 65th minute, but Lars Ricken sealed the victory for Dortmund with a stunning third goal in the 70th minute.

Dortmund's triumph was a watershed moment for German football. It was the first time a German club had won the European Cup since Bayern Munich in 1974, and it helped to pave the way for a new era of success for the Bundesliga. Dortmund would go on to win the Bundesliga title again in 1998 and 2002, and they also reached the Champions League final again in 2013, where they lost to Bayern Munich.

To mark the 20th anniversary of their historic victory, Borussia Dortmund will hold a series of events throughout the day today. Fans will be able to visit the Signal Iduna Park stadium, where they can view the Champions League trophy and meet some of the players who played in the final. There will also be a special screening of the match at the stadium, and a number of Dortmund legends will be on hand to sign autographs and talk about their memories of that unforgettable night in Munich.

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