The Champions League Showdown –Munich 2012
Leave a commentMay 17, 2012 by Archy
We are just 48 hours away from the biggest match of the season, the UEFA Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Chelsea. Though many pundits wouldn’t have bet on these two for the final showdown in Munich, Bayern and Chelsea have overturned the odds, overcome the favorites and now are just one step away from European Glory. Let’s have a look at how these teams made their way to the final.
Road to the Final – Bayern München
The Bavarians were placed alongside Napoli, Manchester City and Villarreal, the toughest group in this year’s edition. But they carried themselves brilliantly with 4 wins, a draw and a loss topping the group in style with a 100% record at home. The round of 16 saw them face Champions league surprise package FC Basel who stunned Manchester United in the group stages. The club from Switzerland proved they were no pushovers as they took a 1 nothing lead to the Fußball Arena München but this was as good as it can get for the Swiss side as they were taught a lesson in football by their German counterparts. A 7-0 drubbing saw Mario Gomez equal the fastest four goal haul in Champions league history and sent Bayern flying into the quarter-finals. Marseille, their quarter final opponents proved to be mere pushovers with Bayern coming out on top on both the legs with an aggregate of 4-0. A tougher test awaited in the semi-finals in the form of Spanish Giants Real Madrid. After a hard fought last gasp winner in the first leg Bayern took a 2-1 lead to the Santiago Bernabau. Ronaldo & Co were quick to eke out their first leg deficit racing to a 2-0 lead within 14’ but the Bavarians equalized on aggregate through a penalty from Robben which took the game to extra-time and then penalties. Manual Neuer stole the show with 2 great saves and a Sergio Ramos penalty miss meant Bayern qualified for the final on home soil and look determined and well on course to be the first side since Inter in 1965 to lift the European Cup in their own backyard.
Road to the Final – Chelsea
Chelsea started their Champions League campaign against Bayer Leverkusen and were favorites to top the group with Valencia and Champions League newbies Genk forming the rest of the group. After an unimpressive first 5 games with just 2 wins, the Blues found themselves facing the gallows going into the last group game against Valencia. But an impressive display saw them thrash Valencia 3-0 and a Leverkusen draw meant Chelsea would top the group going into the knockout stages. Chelsea drew Napoli in the Round of 16. A first leg thrashing at the Stadio San Paulo (3-1) followed by the sacking of the then Chelsea coach AVB left Chelsea a mountain to climb ahead of the second leg. It was the old guard – Frank Lampard, John Terry and Didier Drogba – who helped steer the home team through with the opening three goals. After going 2-0 down on the night Napoli revived their hopes through Gökhan Inler’s splendid strike but Lampard’s penalty forced extra time, where Branislav Ivanović fired in to wrap things up. Chelsea were through to the quarter finals against the odds where they faced Benefica. A 3-1 aggregate saw them to the semi-finals where a herculean task awaited – a clash against FC Barcelona. The first leg saw a perfect display from Chelsea with Barcelona having the lion’s share of possession and the chances but a late first half strike from Drogba was all but enough to seal it. A tougher test waited at the Camp Nou especially after Barcelona scored a goal each on either side of a Terry red card. But Chelsea were not going to let 2009 come back an haunt them as Ramires and Torres struck in the latter stages of the first and second halves respectively to seal an impressive victory against the World’s Best. Chelsea were on their way to to Munich and will be looking to win it this time around after losing out to United 4 years ago on Penalties.
The Final – Tactics (Bayern München)
The probable line ups are shown before you. Bayern Munich are likely to retain their traditional system with like-like replacements to their suspended players, Tymoshchuk, Van Buyten and Rafinha the most likely replacements of Luiz Gustavo, Badstuber and Alaba respectively. The suspensions are more a cause for concern to Chelsea rather than Bayern as the Blues most likely have to change their formation to a 4-1-2-1-2 or 4-3-1-2 formation moving from their traditional 4-3-3. A probable 4-3-3 line up for Chelsea would mean Mata would play on the right and Kalou on the right with Drogba up front. At the back, Cahill will be given the responsibilty to sheperd the fragile defence who has to keep attack minded players like Luiz and Bosingwa near to their own goal rather than the oppositions. Ribery would have readily welcomed the challenge of facing a poor Bosingwa rather than a stern Ivanovic at right back, a big big miss for Chelsea along with their Captain Charisma John Terry. Gomez who likes to get behind defenses and tower headers in would be relieved that he’d have to deal with Luiz. Robben on the other flank would have difficulty facing one of the best left backs of our generation in Ashley Cole but the Dutch Winger has always proven that he can be a handful at all times. Robben Vs Ashley Cole – 1 of the key battles to watch out for in the match. Toni Kroos/Muller will be looking to get to the second ball and keep the ball moving out wide. Mikel and Essien would be the key for Chelsea. If they keep the likes of Schweinsteiger and Kroos quiet, Chelsea’s chances of winning would drastically improve.
Moving on to Chelsea’s attack, Drogba will be the man to watch as the Blues would be playing on the counter for most of the match. Lampard and Mata would like to put the ball as quickly as possible to the top Drog. Drogba in top form is a must if Che must leave Munich with the trophy. You would expect him to have the measure of Van Buyten who hasn’t had much playing time on his side and Jerome Boateng. With Lahm and Rafinha flying up and down the wings the lack of pace out wide for Chelsea due to Ramires’s absence is another blow. Torres is at his best running at defences but Torres and Drogba havent played together in quite some time and their understanding could be put into major question in the biggest game of the season. A 4-3-3 would mean Kalou in place of Torres but wider to the flanks. Lahm should face no trouble dealing with the lackluster Ivorian. A 4-3-1-2 is more likely to suit Chelsea with the players available for the final.
Man to watch ( Bayern München )
Franck Ribery- Facing bosingwa you would expect the Frenchman to cause all sorts of chaos and mayhem in Chelsea’s defence. Capable of scoring himself as well as putting on the plate for others it is of great importance to Chelsea to nullify the attacking threat posed by Ribery.
Man to watch ( Chelsea )
Didier Drogba – Come the finals Top Drog is the man that Chelsea look to to come up with the goods. If he finds form he can be quite unplayable at times. He has to turn up in Munich as he did against Barca and Napoli in the rounds before if Chelsea are to end their European drought.
The 2012 Champions League final promises to be an intense and emotional encounter rather than a classic one. Bayern are more likely to keep the possession of the ball as Chelsea look to play on the counter. With both sides likely to line up with fragile defences due to lack of first team players combined with Bayern’s greater attacking prowess would mean Bayern take the cut on paper. But as we all saw in the semi-finals a football match is never won on paper.
Match Prediction – Bayern München 2-1 Chelsea
Aamer Aslam
Footy Focus 