The grand finale of Europe's top cup competition has finally arrived. On the night where Chelsea's manager and their senior players are probably having the biggest game in their careers, Bayern Munich will be playing the match at their very own stadium.
As a matter of fact, football has come home for the German side while Chelsea are desperate not to let history repeat itself when they lost to Manchester United in that 2008 all-English final.
The Blues employed a young coach before the season to rejuvenate the squad. Ironically, it was the senior players who kept the Blues going and this young coach got sacked a couple of months ago.
Bayern's dominance in German football came to a halt for the past two seasons which saw Borussia Bortmund won the league twice. Dortmund went one step up this year by winning the German Cup as well, thrashing Bayern 5-2 in the final.
In what might seem as a disappointing campaign, Chelsea finished sixth in the BPL while Bayern have not won anything so far, the Champions League final is the last chance for both sides to gain some glory before the season comes to an end.
Chelsea face some problems in defence as captain John Terry and fellow centre-back Branislav Ivanovic are suspended. Gary Cahill and David Luiz, still in recovering mode, are doubtful. That might result in seeing a wing-back or holding midfielder deployed in centre-back instead.
Jupp Heynckes, Bayern Munich's manager, has won the competition with Real Madrid in 1998 and odds are on him to make it double this year. Bayern can exploit Chelsea's weakness by focusing on attacking through the area outside the penalty box.
They have players who are suited to do that. Arjen Robben, a left-footer, can start on the right and cut in with his natural foot. Same applies to Franck Ribery who is a right-footer. Bastian Schweinsteiger (I had to google this name) can launch attacks from the centre in a dynamic way.
All the Bavarians need is a big scoring striker, think Mario Gomez, to keep the Chelsea defenders at bay and they will be able to create space to shoot from outside the box. Schweinsteiger is the kind of "German Tank" who can shoot from distance.
Given the trickery of Robben, he is bound to give his former team a headache by constantly drifting infield thus, freeing up space for captain cum right-back Philip Lahm to advance forward like a typical Brazilian wing-back.
Chelsea might start with Fernando Torres to exploit Bayern's Daniel van Buyten's lack of pace. However, the latter's towering height means that long-ball tactics might not be effective.
The Blues look likely to start with three central midfielders to gain advantage in midfield. But their final third still lacks a bit of spark. I believe both Torres and Didier Drogba will play together at some stage of the game after one is substitued onto the pitch to salvage the situation.
I am going for a 2:0 win to Bayern. Both goals will be scored via diagonal runs from the flanks. Robben looks likely to be one, if not both of the goalscorers.
Lastly, I would like to dedicate this picture to Jose Mourinho, the Special One.
As a matter of fact, football has come home for the German side while Chelsea are desperate not to let history repeat itself when they lost to Manchester United in that 2008 all-English final.
The Blues employed a young coach before the season to rejuvenate the squad. Ironically, it was the senior players who kept the Blues going and this young coach got sacked a couple of months ago.
Bayern's dominance in German football came to a halt for the past two seasons which saw Borussia Bortmund won the league twice. Dortmund went one step up this year by winning the German Cup as well, thrashing Bayern 5-2 in the final.
In what might seem as a disappointing campaign, Chelsea finished sixth in the BPL while Bayern have not won anything so far, the Champions League final is the last chance for both sides to gain some glory before the season comes to an end.
Chelsea face some problems in defence as captain John Terry and fellow centre-back Branislav Ivanovic are suspended. Gary Cahill and David Luiz, still in recovering mode, are doubtful. That might result in seeing a wing-back or holding midfielder deployed in centre-back instead.
Jupp Heynckes, Bayern Munich's manager, has won the competition with Real Madrid in 1998 and odds are on him to make it double this year. Bayern can exploit Chelsea's weakness by focusing on attacking through the area outside the penalty box.
They have players who are suited to do that. Arjen Robben, a left-footer, can start on the right and cut in with his natural foot. Same applies to Franck Ribery who is a right-footer. Bastian Schweinsteiger (I had to google this name) can launch attacks from the centre in a dynamic way.
All the Bavarians need is a big scoring striker, think Mario Gomez, to keep the Chelsea defenders at bay and they will be able to create space to shoot from outside the box. Schweinsteiger is the kind of "German Tank" who can shoot from distance.
Given the trickery of Robben, he is bound to give his former team a headache by constantly drifting infield thus, freeing up space for captain cum right-back Philip Lahm to advance forward like a typical Brazilian wing-back.
Chelsea might start with Fernando Torres to exploit Bayern's Daniel van Buyten's lack of pace. However, the latter's towering height means that long-ball tactics might not be effective.
The Blues look likely to start with three central midfielders to gain advantage in midfield. But their final third still lacks a bit of spark. I believe both Torres and Didier Drogba will play together at some stage of the game after one is substitued onto the pitch to salvage the situation.
I am going for a 2:0 win to Bayern. Both goals will be scored via diagonal runs from the flanks. Robben looks likely to be one, if not both of the goalscorers.
Lastly, I would like to dedicate this picture to Jose Mourinho, the Special One.
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