For the second year running an English club will be looking to upset the odds to become European champions. Last year, Manchester United fell short in their bid to beat Barcelona. Having already beaten Barca can Chelsea go one step further and win the Champions League for the first time in their history?
Bayern Munich v Chelsea 7:45pm
To say the Blues’ journey to reach the Champions League has been a roller-coaster would be an understatement. Having scrambled out of their group the west London outfit appeared to be on the verge of elimination when they lost the first leg of their last-16 tie against Napoli 3-1. However, out went Andre Villas-Boas and in came Roberto Di Matteo as the new manager, after which everything changed.
After turning around their tie with Napoli in the second leg Chelsea then dumped Benfica out before their semi-final with Barcelona. No one gave the Blues a chance, yet somehow they managed to defeat the defending European champions following a dramatic second leg.
For the final Chelsea are once again underdogs, with Bayern 4/9 to win the Champions League, while the Premier League club are 7/4.
The main factor for Bayern being given the edge seems to be their home advantage, with the game being staged at the Allianz Arena in Munich. The four-time European champions’ record at home is mightily impressive this season, winning all but three of their 25 matches on their own patch.
Bayern’s last defeat at home was against Borussia Dortmund on November 19, the team that eventually beat them to the Bundesliga title and the German Cup. While Chelsea were winning their domestic cup final against Liverpool, Jupp Heynckes’ men were being soundly beaten 5-2 by Borussia in the German equivalent.
What Dortmund proved in that game is that Bayern do have a soft underbelly, especially when you consider Luiz Gustavo, David Alaba and Holger Badstuber will all be unavailable for Saturday#s final. Bayern’s main strength is going forward, with the trio of Mario Gomes, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben the biggest threats to Chelsea’s dream.
All three players are in double figures for goals and will provide Chelsea’s defence with a different kind of test than the one they were given by Barcelona. Di Matteo has admitted Chelsea will need to keep it tight but it seems unlikely they will manage to keep a clean sheet. As a result go for over 2.5 goals at 5/6.
For Chelsea’s old guard Saturday’s game is going to be the last hoorah you’d think, with Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba desperate to enhance their legacy at the club. All three are expected to start against Bayern and having scored in the last European final they appeared in you can get Lampard to repeat that trick at 11/4 to score anytime, with Drogba 15/8.
Given Bayern’s attacking threat Chelsea’s team news will be critical as we wait to see whether David Luiz and Gary Cahill have overcome their hamstring injuries. The reports coming out of Munich indicate they will be fit but if they aren’t then Di Matteo will be without a recognised centre-half as John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic are suspended.
Barring Chelsea having no fit centre-backs the biggest loss for them will be Ramires, who has been magnificent in the second half of the campaign.
To win the Champions League will take another super-human effort by Chelsea and you wonder whether the semi-final with Barcelona was their final.
It’s going to be close and could go all the way to penalties again. At least John Terry isn’t around to take one this time as far as Chelsea are concerned. The match markets have priced a Bayern win in 90 minutes at 4/5, with the draw 11/4 and the draw 10/3.
Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.