What: UEFA Champions League Final
Who: Chelsea (England); Bayern-Munich (Germany)
Where: Allianz Stadium Munich Germany
TV: Fox, Game at 1:45p
Stakes: Bragging rights as top football club in Europe
Today is one of international soccer’s biggest days, probably only behind the World Cup or perhaps the European Cup finals. The Champions League final is this afternoon and if you don’t mind spending a couple of hours inside watching the game, I think you will enjoy it regardless of your soccer knowledge. To give you a little edge if you do decide to watch, here are a few reasons why each team could win. I’ll stay away from the technical aspects but Andrew, Pirate, Homer Dome or others feel free to chime in through the comments. If you want a technical review, this one is pretty good.
Why Chelsea Will Win
Didier Drogba – the 34 year old striker is probably playing his last game for Chelsea and maybe even his last European game. Drogba is a big game player and it doesn’t get any bigger than the CL final. Goals that put a knife in the opponent’s heart, either earlier or late, are a Drogba signature.
Bayern-Munich Missing Players too – Much has been made of Chelsea losing 4 players due to penalties but Bayern have three key players missing from the final. David Alaba is a brilliant young left back. Holger Badstuber is their most commanding centre half, and Luiz Gustavo a pretty good defensive-minded midfielder. Their replacements are nearly not as good (to be kind). Plus star midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is nursing a sore ankle and it looked like he was hurting last week against Dortmund.
Chelsea Team of Destiny? – I hate to pull out this card but Chelsea just seems like one of those teams that is somehow finding a way to the Cup. They were down 1-3 to Napoli but win the second game 4-1 to move on to the quarter-finals. And show me one person who thought Chelsea would get by Barcelona, especially with 10 men, down 1-2 in aggregate with about 45 minutes remaining, at Camp Neu. The word is that many Chelsea players won’t be back next year and this could be their last chance this veteran group will have a shot at a CL title. This is not a team “just happy to be here.”
Why Bayern-Munich Will Win:
Bayern-Munich is the better team – B-M is really good. Arguably they had a tougher route in the CL and they play a style that has given Chelsea fits. Chelsea deserved its 6th place finish in the EPL as they played very inconsistent throughout the year (although they seem to play to the level of the competition). Except for the Bundesliga final, B-M has played solidly for months. They are a young but savvy team that is well managed and play a tight precision game, just what you’d expect from Germany.
Chelsea is Missing 4 Key Players – Due to penalties, Chelsea has to sit 4 players and its midfield will have some huge holes including Ramires who has been Chelsea’s best player of late. John Terry may be a dick, but he will be sorely missed on the back line. David Luiz and Gary Cahill should be back from injury which will fill some of the holes, but how rusty are they?
Bayern-Munich is Playing at Home – Sure, not all the tickets will be sold to the Bavarians but playing on your own pitch in your own City has to be reassuring to Bayern-Munich. Chelsea will definitely be facing a hostile crowd and a comfortable Bayern-Munich team.
Due to the loss of players on both sides, especially in the mid and full backs, I expect an exciting, relatively high scoring game. Even if you’re not a soccer fan, this should be fun to watch. Bayern-Munich may be favored, but I think it’s mostly due to home field advantage. This is a game either side could take and it wouldn’t be a shocker. If Chelsea gets an early lead and then holds it for 20 minutes or so, I predict a positive outcome for Chelsea as B-M is known to panic and become disorganized if down early. A close match will be nerve wracking as Chelsea has tended to allow a backbreaking goal somewhere in the 82nd to 86th minute range.
Prediction:Chelsea 4-2. For some reason Chelsea is on one of those runs and will find a way to win. It will be nip and tuck all game with a late Drogba goal to seal the victory.
Consider this the game log.
Oops photo to big, Sean a little help?
Looks like an okay size to me.
I tweaked it a bit to fit better on small screens.
meh, needs help still. WAAAY too tall.
I'm going to need screen shots at this point. I can reduce the browser width to 100 pixels and it scales well.
I just removed the image.
Time to be that guy...
Today is one of international soccer’s biggest days, probably only behind the World Cup or perhaps the European Cup finals.
Technically, "international soccer" is played between two national teams. Matches between clubs from different countries is just called "European soccer". Also, the European Cup was told name for the Champions League. The Euros that are coming up in June are the European Championships.
Fine be that guy. I was more referring to international "interest or attention" but obviously could have worded it better.
anything that is not MLS is International Soccer to me
And yet MLS is the most international North American league other than ice hockey.
Kinda a dick move to make my first comment a criticism. Great write-up, free. Thanks for posting it. I'm super pumped for this game.
My gut says 3-2 to Munich. Drogba will score a goal, but it won't be enough. But I don't think Bayern are going to waltz all over Chelsea. It's going to be very physical.
I'm nervous, dudes. Considering the Minnesota teams of late, having one of my teams this close to a major championship feels like a foreign concept.
Ooh, Celsea starting a rookie, Bertrand as left Mid. Could be a huge boost offensively or could be a disaster. Watch how this works out.
I'm pickin' Gomez.
Does anyone know why the CL Final is only one game? It has never really made much sense to me.
More of a "now or never" atmosphere, maybe? Easier to market a single final game as huge? I don't know.
Most finals are. It maximizes money for the tournament organizers rather than the team.
Home-and-away legs are designed to mitigate against home field advantage. With a pre-determined stadium for the final that is usually neutral*, home field advantage isn't a worry so a one-off final is OK.
*This is the 4th home game since the competition started in 1955 that there's been a home game for the final.
Man oh man.
I love Bayern's controlling patient style.
Game has really opened up here in the last few minutes. Great chance for each side.
as a casual soccer watcher, its hard for me to tell which team is which. On the ESPN score box, they show the colors of the team underneath the name, FOX does not.
Chelsea Blue. Bayern Munich Red.
Chelsea doesn't want to press much. A pacier team could expose them.
Agree. Chelsea is more comfortable with the counter attack.
Dare I say it, but Torres would be much better to play on the counter than Drogba.
HD, we are pulling for Munich more for Spurs to make CL next year than anything else, correct?
Ja.
Chelsea is freedom blue. Bayern is fascist red.
this obviously goes up under DW's question
O.k. Maybe my prediction of a high scoring game won't come to pass. Chelsea weathered the storm at the beginning which is good.
Looks like B-M won't allow Drogba to beat them. It seemed like they had 2 defenders on him whenever he touched the ball.
B-M just needs to do what they've been doing thinking that they will connect eventually.
Chelsea needs to create some more chances in order to win. (duh)
Chelsea's defense has been a little leaky, which would be more evident had some of those Gomez chances gone in. Generally though, they've been able to push Bayern out to the sides(mostly the left) and shut down the middle. Chelsea's chances have been more direct and Bayern's defense have handled them pretty well. Chelsea are gonna have to gamble and have 3 on the counter instead of Drogba and a supporting midfielder.
Wow that was a close offside decision.
This England tilted broadcast chose only to replay it once.
I was hoping Chelsea would open it up but they do and it almost backfired on them. Look for Chelsea to play back and hope an opportunity to score on the counter.
With the way things are going, Chelsea might just hold back and play for the draw.
Luiz is going to be the goat if Chelsea doesn't make a change soon.
Just switch him out with Bosingwa on the right.
Dude, that's just as scary!
It stopped Barca.
This is insane.
That was either BM's 16th or 17th corner, to Chelsea's 0
Bayern Munich is doing their best impression of Spurs late in the season.
This is starting to feel a lot like the Chelsea-Barca semi-final. Chelsea isn't creating jack, but their opponent isn't finishing for beans.
You'd at least think that Bayern Munich has a head or two to aim that though.
You were saying...
That was pretty impressive.
There's your 82nd minute goal, free.
Well, shit.
wow, neat goal
It's a little obvious to say, but that was coming.
Holy fucking shit!
What an unbelievably great header!
And with Torres on the pitch, too!
Yeah, I don't know that I've seen one that looked more impossible.
HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!
Nuts.
OH MY GAWD!!!!
That one wasn't coming, but Drogba proved otherwise.
No matter how this ends, free. I like you enough to walk away and not to kick you when you are down. Even though it is not in my interests, good luck.
This game really got good after a terrible start.
!!
Penalty!
SAVE! I'd put up more exclamation marks, but I already maxed out on font size.
How about that?
My goodness just crazy.
wow. just wow.
silly question, how long is the bonus time?
Two 15-minute halves. No sudden death, the entire 30 minutes is played.
This looks like it's going to penalties.
Too bad he's suspended
His tears are like sunshine.
oooh goalie tipped it
Cech's guessed right on both so far, just couldn't get there.
goalie goal !! LOL
I LOVE seeing the Keeper taking PKS.
SAVE!
doink! BM in deep trouble now
This is über-tense
Drogba!!!!!!!!
DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA! DROGBA!
Spurs got boned.
Giant tip o' the hat to Chelsea. If you'd have told me at Christmas they'd pull off a Double, I would have suggested you seek professional evaluation. This has been an absolutely bonkers turnaround for them.
I passed out when B-M scored that goal. Just came to now what happened? Going to DVR now....
Didieaaaaaaaa!!!!!!
What did I say about Chelsea giving up goal in late stages? What did I say about Didier Drogba scoring big goals in big games. Now on to extra time......
Chec! Holy crap. Again like I said, is Chelsea a team of destiny?
Wow penalties. John Terry please stay in the stands.
This is going to kill me. Guess I was wrong about high scoring game. Thought Chelsea would press a lot more due to b-M missing players. Right be fore the Bayern goal I was think that Bayern should score so Chelsea would go on offensive.
Jesus! 3-1 BM already. And the goalkeeper?
OMG!!!!!!!
Up to Didier.......
Yesssssssssssss!!!!!,! Losing consciousness agai
Just watched from the 6th minute of extra time on (had to leave yesterday after Robben's miss). Gotta believe Bayern will be ruing this day for a long, long time. Also, knowing John Terry wasn't involved makes it much easier to feel good for Chelsea.