In some form or another , each of the last 18 winners of Europe 's elite club competition started the final with a defensive midfielder .
Dortmund could afford to buck the trend given how they employed a sweeper in a five - man backline .
In some form or another , each of the last 18 winners of Europe 's elite club competition started the final with a defensive midfielder , while Dortmund could afford to buck the trend given how they employed a sweeper in a five - man backline .