Thirty two teams started the battle for glory from September last year. Now, however, the journey has been reduced to the final two-Bayern Munich and Chelsea. Today, both clubs will battle it out for Europe’s top club football honour. Football fans, bookmakers and pundits have all predicted an all Spanish final between Barcelona and Real Madrid but Chelsea and Bayern Munich staged upsets in the semi finals by knocking out the two Spanish giants.
Today’s final will take place at the Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich’s home ground where the winner will enter into the folklore of football legends while the loser will be left wondering what they will do to conquer Europe someday. The loser today would end up with a second loss in the Champions League final. Bayern Munich is aiming for its fifth Champions League trophy while Chelsea is gunning for a first ever Champions League crown.
The last time these two sides met was in the quarter finals of the Champions League in 2004/2005 season where Chelsea knocked out Bayern Munich by winning 6-5 on aggregate.
Bayern Munich has the luxury of playing the Champions League final in front of their home fans. They will be hoping on ending the season on a high after losing the league and Cup to Borrusia Dortmund, they have already faced an English team already in the competition when they played newly crowned English champions Manchester City with each side winning their home game 2-0.
Bayern has a decent record against English sides in the Champions league. They have played 35 matches, won 13, lost 10 and drew 12. Bayern is playing its fourth Champions League final in 13 years. Bayern fans were left heartbroken in the 1999 finals in Nou Camp when they had one hand already on the trophy but two injury time goals handed Man United the trophy.
They bounced back in the 2001 edition beating Valencia in the finals via penalties. Two years ago they lost to Inter Milan in the finals and will be looking to win this one on their home ground making it the fourth time in history that a club will be playing the finals in its home and the first in this modern era (Real Madrid in 1956/57, Inter Milan in 1964/65 and Roma in 1983/84).
Bayern Munich will be without the services of David Alaba, Holger Badstuber and Luiz Gustavo even though its manager Jupp Heynckes will likely have Mario Gomez, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribéry, Toni Kroos, Daniel van Buyten, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, Jérôme Boateng and possibly Thomas Müller in his starting lineup, with Manuel Neuer in goal. The Germans will probably go for a three man attack of Gomez, Ribery and Robben.
Bayern’s strength lies on their wing play with Ribery and Robben doing damages on the wings. Ashley Cole and Bosingwa will have their hands full containing the duo. Mario Gomez is the second highest goal scorer in the Champions league with 12 goals and need a hattrick to overtake Lionel Messi who has 14 strikes.
Jupp Heynckes will be gunning for his second Champions League crown after leading Real Madrid to the title in 1998. Bayern winger Ribery insists his side will not take the threat of Chelsea very lightly which he believes is tactically superior to Barcelona. “When it comes to the game, Barcelona is stronger,” Ribery said. But if you look at organisation, tactics, and set pieces, then Chelsea is better.
In the semi-final, Chelsea played like they had to against a team like Barcelona, and in Munich they will take a defensive approach, with a well-organised and compact team. It will be very hard for us. Also, former Bayern captain and legend Stefan Effenberg believes Bastian Schweinsteiger must step up to the occasion for Bayern to have a good chance of beating Chelsea as the over reliance on Robben and Ribery is becoming too predictable. “There is a lot of hope resting on Schweinsteiger’s shoulders and he cannot buy any more time. He must play well now,” Effenberg stated
“Sooner or later, he has to be there to lead this team. I am keen to see whether he can cope with the pace. He must play intelligently. It is not good when you are always hoping that Ribery and Robben won’t get stopped. Given the quality Bayern have, they must be able to play other systems too. They are too predictable. A win in this game would save their season.”
English FA Cup champions, Chelsea are heading to the final full of confidence after staging a massive upset to knock out defending champions and favourites Barcelona in the semi finals. Chelsea had a dismal start to the season under former coach Andre Villas Boas but had a change of fortunes since interim coach Roberto Di Matteo took over.
They will be hoping of erasing the disappointment of losing to Manchester United in the 2008 finals in Moscow where a John Terry slip gave Man United the title and will take consolation from the fact that if the game goes to penalties John Terry will not be available as he is suspended.
Chelsea’s record against German teams in 13 games include-seven wins, four losses and two draws. They have won just once in Germany and have a poor record in Germany. Chelsea is already out of the Champions League qualification after coming sixth in the just concluded English League and need to win the Champions League to enable them compete next season.
Chelsea will take consolation from the fact that English clubs have won four of their five European Cup/Champions League final encounters with German clubs. History is also against Chelsea as the last 14 winners of the Champions League are all past winners.
They will also be without the services of four influential players in this final as Ivanovic, Ramires, Meireles and Terry are all suspended. Di Matteo will have the services of Ashley Cole, Jose Bosingwa, David Luiz, Gary Cahill, Frank Lampard, John Obi-Mikel, Micheal Essien, Juan Mata, Drogba, Torress with Peter Cech in goal. With the number of suspensions, Matteo may likely go for Drogba and Torres in attack.
Chelsea was praised and criticised for their defensive performance against Barcelona and may go for the offensive against Bayern. If they can neutralise the threat of Ribery and Robben they have a good chance of beating Bayern. Juan Mata was below average in the two games against Barcelona and he really needs to step up as the link between the midfield and attack.
Chelsea also must take their chances as it will be few and far between in this encounter. Drogba and Torres must be at their predator best. Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi believes his side has what it takes to win the Champions League.
Hear him, “And now we have a chance to put things right. We are now a game away from the greatest win ever for this club and we want to make history and be legends for this club. Hopefully, if luck and God help us we will make that history. If we can pull off this win it will be the greatest achievement ever for this club. It is the biggest game of our life and I hope the players who step into others’ shoes want to make this club proud. That’s why we have to go in and make sure we win it for them and for the club.”
Juan Mata also echoed the sentiments of Mikel by saying the club wants to make history by winning the Champions League, “We want to win for the club, and for us, because we can make history for Chelsea. We have to win the final of the Champions League and now that’s it.”
Today, both keepers will have to be at their best in this final. History may be on Bayern side but Chelsea will no doubt put on a good fight. All that will be decided in exciting 90 or 120 minutes at the Allianz Arena.
Predictions
Bayern Munich 1 – Chelsea 2
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