The five year wait ended in victory for Bayern Munich, as Real Madrid left Bavaria with an away goal from their Champions League semi-final first leg last Wednesday.
Perhaps it was predictable there would be an anti-climax after the hype surrounding one of European football's long-standing feuds. Even a last-minute winner for Bayern didn't appear to concern Jose Mourinho, who was chirpy in the post-match media rounds.
Xabi Alonso has sought inspiration from... Dexter?
And the significance of Mario Gomez's winner will be determined this evening when Juup Heynckes' side attempt to reach their second European Cup final in three seasons.
Ironically, it is a Mourinho team at the Santiago Bernabeu who stand in their way. In 2010, the Portuguese's Internazionale completed a stunning treble as they beat their German opponents 2-0 in Madrid's stadium. Mourinho liked winning at the arena so much he stayed there.
Kaka is very much ready:
With Barcelona eliminated by Roberto di Matteo's gutsy Chelsea, who themselves have four players suspended for the final, the ardent Madrid press will not so much expect Mourinho to end the club's 10-year Champions League drought, as consider it a foregone conclusion.
That despite the first leg deficit. Bayern have played against Spain's most successful side nine times in the country's capital, winning twice, drawing once and losing on six occasions.
Madrid mullered by Gerd in 1976:
Heynckes and winger Arjen Robben also make belated returns to their former club, after severing ties somewhat acrimoniously 11 years apart.
Sixty-six year-old Heynckes guided Real to the Champions League in 1997/98 - their first European Cup since 1966 - but was still sacked, having succeeded Fabio Capello who, likewise, won a trophy the previous campaign (the Primera Liga) but was also discharged.
Juanito stamps his authority on Lothar Matthaus, 1988:
Robben meanwhile was one of the squad casualties when Florentino Perez returned as president of Los Blancos in 2009. The Dutchman was booted out after being told he was not wanted, as Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema arrived during a spend-sational summer.
Madrid have had a good week since their defeat at the Allianz Arena. For the first time under Mourinho they beat Barca at Camp Nou, and in doing so opened up a seven-point gap which should ensure they become champions of Spain for the first time since 2008.
Bayern beat Real at the first Allianz meeting in 2007:
And then the cherry was placed on top of a delectable cake when Chelsea knocked out Barcelona. Madrid's reaction to Fernando Torres' clincher was even caught on film*.
Los Blancos have scored a staggering 22 goals in just five European matches this season. But will it be all white on the night or a red uprising in what was once
*Obviously that is not them.