The eagerly awaited Champions League Final is finally here!
An unexpected showdown between two magnificent teams, who have faced serious contenders on their Road to Munich, is set to light up Europe on Saturday, 18th May.
The two teams have overcome many European heavyweights on their Road to Munich, as seen below, to reach this showpiece event in Munich.
The Londoners have never lifted the European Cup and their qualification to the next season's Champions League also hangs by the sword of the outcome of the showpiece event after they failed to secure a top four finish in the English Premier League.
Analysis of the Team Strengths:
BAYERN MUNCHEN:
The team's strength lies in their lethal attacking line up.
Mario Gomez, the lethal striker, is in top form this season, finishing as the second top scorer in the Bundesliga and is also currently the second top scorer in the Champions League this season scoring 12 times (behind only Messi - 14 goals).
Frank Ribery is currently one of the best wingmen and offensive midfielders in Europe. Finishing as the best goal provider in the Bundesliga this season, he has, in the past, ripped teams like Manchester United apart single handedly. Also his partnership with Robben, often dubbed as Robbery, is one of the most dangerous offensive midfield partnerships in Europe presently.
Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller and Toni Kroos are the other offensive midfielders who need to be stopped and who can kill games at their own will when they hit top form.
Manuel Neuer has been in fine form in the Champions league and played an important part in the semi-final versus Madrid stopping two penalties.
CHELSEA:
The team has formidable attacking options comparable to that of Bayern but only when the attackers find their top form, which has been wavering and sorely missed at important times over the season.
Didier Drogba, the big Ivorian, was once feared by teams across Europe, but age seems to have taken a stride out of him. He nonetheless is still the man to watch out, and is still relied upon by Chelsea as the Big Game man, which he proves time and again as he did in the first leg of this season's Champions League semi-final, scoring the crucial sole goal of the match.
Juan Mata is the key provider for Chelsea and also one of the top goal providers in EPL this season. Bayern will need to keep tabs on the diminutive attacker, who has been a real asset for Chelsea when he is in top form.
Frank Lampard, one of the many old guards of the ageing Chelsea squad, is another key attacker for the team who can, with his experience and guile, change the course of games. We should only hope he doesn't miss fire any spot kick opportunity, as has been the case many a times over the season!
Petr Cech, another old guard, has found his form after a torrid first half through the season, just like many of his teammates. He will have to shoulder huge responsibility to keep his team in the fray, given that the attacking machine guns of Bavaria will leave no opportunity to fire bullets at him. The Cup is the perfect gift he can gift himself for his Birthday on Sunday.
Fernando Torres has recently found decent form and if given an opportunity at the Big stage, will be eager to prove his mettle and show the world what he can Still do. Not to mention, Del Bosque would be the first one to take note of his performance.
Players Suspended:
Bayern Munich - Holger Badstuber, David Alba, Luiz Gustavo
Chelsea - John Terry, Ramieres, Brainslav Ivanovic, Raul Merieles
Stakes Involved for the two Teams:
FC Bayern München will break new ground on Saturday when they take on Chelsea FC at their Fußball Arena München home as it is the first time a team has contested a UEFA Champions League final in their own stadium and only the fourth time – and the first in 28 years – it has happened in European Cup history.
Philip Lahm sumps up the mood aptly, "You need an international title if you want to become a golden generation."
After failing to secure any silverware this season, losing both the League and the League Cup to Borussia Dortmund, the Bavarians will have extra motivation to secure this coveted trophy.
Chelsea may have secured a piece of silverware in the FA Cup this season but have missed out on the opportunity to secure Champions League football next season. After finishing a dismal sixth in the Premier League the only way they can now break into the Champions League next season is by - Winning the Cup this season.
Managers:
Jupp Hynckes of Bayern Munich has built a solid team. It will be a big personal achievement for him to win he Champions League with Bayern Munich as he will become only the fourth Manager in the European Cup history to win the trophy with two different teams after winning it with Real Madrid in 1998 (the others being Ernst Happel, Ottmar Hitzfeld and Jose Mourinho).
Roberto Di Matteo of Chelsea has turned the season around for the team after taking over from Andre Villas Boas in mid season. It is rumored that even winning the fist ever European Cup for Chelsea, may not guarantee him a permanent job at Chelsea as the club owner Roman Abramovich may seek to get in a more decorated manager to lead Chelsea next season.
Winning the Champions League is a dream for every player and team.
Both teams have enough motivation, strength and ability to claim the top European prize. Lets start cheering for our personal favourites!
| Bayern |  |  | Chelsea | |
| Referee: Pedro Proença (POR) – Stadium: Fußball Arena München, Munich (GER) | ||||
Image courtesy: uefa.com
The two teams have overcome many European heavyweights on their Road to Munich, as seen below, to reach this showpiece event in Munich.
The Bavarians are favoured to lift the coveted trophy and have odds in their favour after an analysis of history and an analysis of the form of the two teams in the current season.
The Londoners have never lifted the European Cup and their qualification to the next season's Champions League also hangs by the sword of the outcome of the showpiece event after they failed to secure a top four finish in the English Premier League.
Image Courtesy: Uefa.com
But, this analysis should not make us conclude that Chelsea hold no chance. After all, no one expected them to beat Barcelona too in the Semi Finals. Also, Bayern will enter the game with the setback of the defeat to Dortmund in the DFB Pokal last weekend fresh in their minds.
Hence, in this season of surprises, it would be futile to predict the outcome and any prediction would only amount to mere speculation.Analysis of the Team Strengths:
BAYERN MUNCHEN:
The team's strength lies in their lethal attacking line up.
Mario Gomez, the lethal striker, is in top form this season, finishing as the second top scorer in the Bundesliga and is also currently the second top scorer in the Champions League this season scoring 12 times (behind only Messi - 14 goals).
Frank Ribery is currently one of the best wingmen and offensive midfielders in Europe. Finishing as the best goal provider in the Bundesliga this season, he has, in the past, ripped teams like Manchester United apart single handedly. Also his partnership with Robben, often dubbed as Robbery, is one of the most dangerous offensive midfield partnerships in Europe presently.
Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller and Toni Kroos are the other offensive midfielders who need to be stopped and who can kill games at their own will when they hit top form.
Manuel Neuer has been in fine form in the Champions league and played an important part in the semi-final versus Madrid stopping two penalties.
Image Courtesy: Uefa.com
CHELSEA:
The team has formidable attacking options comparable to that of Bayern but only when the attackers find their top form, which has been wavering and sorely missed at important times over the season.
Didier Drogba, the big Ivorian, was once feared by teams across Europe, but age seems to have taken a stride out of him. He nonetheless is still the man to watch out, and is still relied upon by Chelsea as the Big Game man, which he proves time and again as he did in the first leg of this season's Champions League semi-final, scoring the crucial sole goal of the match.
Juan Mata is the key provider for Chelsea and also one of the top goal providers in EPL this season. Bayern will need to keep tabs on the diminutive attacker, who has been a real asset for Chelsea when he is in top form.
Frank Lampard, one of the many old guards of the ageing Chelsea squad, is another key attacker for the team who can, with his experience and guile, change the course of games. We should only hope he doesn't miss fire any spot kick opportunity, as has been the case many a times over the season!
Petr Cech, another old guard, has found his form after a torrid first half through the season, just like many of his teammates. He will have to shoulder huge responsibility to keep his team in the fray, given that the attacking machine guns of Bavaria will leave no opportunity to fire bullets at him. The Cup is the perfect gift he can gift himself for his Birthday on Sunday.
Fernando Torres has recently found decent form and if given an opportunity at the Big stage, will be eager to prove his mettle and show the world what he can Still do. Not to mention, Del Bosque would be the first one to take note of his performance.
Image Courtesy: Uefa.com
Players Suspended:
Bayern Munich - Holger Badstuber, David Alba, Luiz Gustavo
Chelsea - John Terry, Ramieres, Brainslav Ivanovic, Raul Merieles
Stakes Involved for the two Teams:
FC Bayern München will break new ground on Saturday when they take on Chelsea FC at their Fußball Arena München home as it is the first time a team has contested a UEFA Champions League final in their own stadium and only the fourth time – and the first in 28 years – it has happened in European Cup history.
Philip Lahm sumps up the mood aptly, "You need an international title if you want to become a golden generation."
After failing to secure any silverware this season, losing both the League and the League Cup to Borussia Dortmund, the Bavarians will have extra motivation to secure this coveted trophy.
Chelsea may have secured a piece of silverware in the FA Cup this season but have missed out on the opportunity to secure Champions League football next season. After finishing a dismal sixth in the Premier League the only way they can now break into the Champions League next season is by - Winning the Cup this season.
Image Courtesy: Uefa.com
Managers:
Jupp Hynckes of Bayern Munich has built a solid team. It will be a big personal achievement for him to win he Champions League with Bayern Munich as he will become only the fourth Manager in the European Cup history to win the trophy with two different teams after winning it with Real Madrid in 1998 (the others being Ernst Happel, Ottmar Hitzfeld and Jose Mourinho).
Roberto Di Matteo of Chelsea has turned the season around for the team after taking over from Andre Villas Boas in mid season. It is rumored that even winning the fist ever European Cup for Chelsea, may not guarantee him a permanent job at Chelsea as the club owner Roman Abramovich may seek to get in a more decorated manager to lead Chelsea next season.
Winning the Champions League is a dream for every player and team.
Both teams have enough motivation, strength and ability to claim the top European prize. Lets start cheering for our personal favourites!
