The Bayern Munich vs Chelsea Champions League final is one few would have predicted just over a month ago. Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid were sent tumbling at the semi-final stage, setting up an intriguing clash. Bayern Munich are at home, the first team to have such an advantage in the final of the Champions League since the group stage was brought in; yet Chelsea showed their ability to go toe-to-toe with the very best by knocking out Barcelona. And Bayern Munich have lost out on two fronts to rivals Borussia Dortmund this season; after losing in the Bundesliga race, the Bavarians were crushed 5-2 in the German Cup final last week, something which will buoy Chelsea.
However, the Blues only finished sixth in the Premier League, have a host of suspensions, and will face a very different challenge to Barcelona. Bayern Munich are more solid defensively (they have conceded fewer than any other team in the Bundesliga) and will be harder to pierce on the counter attack. They also have a player, in Mario Gomez, unlikely to show the same profligacy that afflicted Cesc Fabregas, Alexis Sanchez and co. in the semi-final. Indeed, the German giants may prefer to play a team like Chelsea, who are likely to sit back rather than press high up the pitch, after their high-octane clash against Dortmund. Jurgen Klopp’s side are energetic, attacking and good passers of the ball. Bayern Munich will be pulled out of position less by Chelsea, setting up an intriguing set of tactical duels in the Champions League final.
Inside Futbol takes a closer look at those key battles that will be decisive in determining whether Bayern Munich claim the title on home soil or if Chelsea win their first ever European crown:
Arjen Robben vs Salomon Kalou
Philipp Lahm will look to break forward from right back and he will force Ashley Cole to be careful about tracking the runs of Robben. It will therefore be crucial that Kalou works hard defensively. Blues boss Roberto Di Matteo has used Kalou and Ramires wide in midfield to defend from the front and ensure Chelsea are not exposed down either flank; with Ramires absent, more pressure will be placed on Kalou. And up against Robben, the Ivorian will have to be especially careful. The Dutchman just loves cutting inside onto his left foot from the right, and though every defender knows what he will do, few have figured out how to stop him.
Didier Drogba vs Jerome Boateng
In Drogba, Chelsea have a forward who is still capable of puncturing the tightest of defences. As shown against Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona last month, the powerful Ivory Coast international only needs one chance. Though Drogba infuriates with his tendency to writhe around on the floor for half the game, when he is on his feet he is an almost impossible to defend against, as he boasts a mixture of technique, power and skill. Boateng endured a miserable time against Robert Lewandowski in the German Cup final, and Drogba will hope to compound his recent toils. Chelsea have also scored more headed goals than any other team, aside from Bayer Leverkusen, in this season’s Champions League – giving Boateng particular responsibility to prevent that happening again in the Allianz Arena.
Philipp Lahm vs Ashley Cole
If Chelsea decide to play against Bayern Munich as they did against Barcelona and crowd the centre of the pitch to prevent Robben finding space, then captain Lahm will become a more important piece in the puzzle in the Champions League final. And he will hope to have more joy than Dani Alves did up against Cole. This is a battle between two of the world’s best full backs, but Cole does not have the protection of Ramires and may be supported by Kalou here. He will therefore have to work even harder to ensure that Lahm cannot make his way past the last line of defence, as he did against Real Madrid to devastating effect in the semi-final.
Franck Ribery vs Jose Bosingwa
Only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have completed more dribbles than Ribery in this season’s Champions League, and so Bosingwa will have to be wary if selected. Chelsea are a little short defensively without Branislav Ivanovic at right back and must hope Bosingwa defends better than he has at times this season. Under former manager Andre Villas-Boas, Bosingwa’s positional sense was sometimes questionable. However, the more collective and defensive system of Roberto Di Matteo has exposed him less and has limited Chelsea’s opponents since the Italian took over as interim coach. But Ribery will present a different problem for Bosingwa than that posed by Barcelona. With the exception of Messi, Barcelona’s stars do not tend to go on dribbles alone, and therefore Ribery is a completely different kind of test for the Chelsea backline.
Bastian Schweinsteiger vs Juan Mata
Mata has been arguably Chelsea’s best player this year. Like the suspended Ramires, the Spaniard has been one of the few Chelsea stars consistent throughout the season and has made a quick transition to the English game. His assists have been pivotal for Chelsea, and along with Frank Lampard, he is their main creative force. It is for that reason that Schweinsteger will be so crucial. Along with Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller, if selected, he will hope to cast Mata adrift of Lampard and Mikel in the Chelsea midfield, as Bayern Munich did against Real Madrid with Sami Khedira, Xabi Alonso and Mesut Ozil. That would give the German giants control of the midfield. Mata is incisive when given space, and so the Bayern Munich engine room, led by Schweinsteiger, will have to pay particular attention to limiting his time on the ball.
Chelsea are likely to sit back in the early stages and keep a solid shape. Bayern Munich will, playing at home, seek to take the initiative and try to make use of Robben and Ribery out wide as much as possible. The Bundesliga outfit have a varied game, with strength and skill in the middle with Schweinsteiger, Muller and Gomez, but in Robben and Ribery they have possibly the best set of wingers in Europe. Chelsea will face a Bayern Munich team which can quickly change their plans, in contrast to Barcelona, who had but one strategy; pass, pass and pass more; Di Matteo’s men will have to be more adaptable against the Germans.
At the other end, Bayern Munich will know Chelsea can hurt them if given opportunities. Lampard and Mata are clinical passers, and Chelsea will look to get them on the ball in possession to supply a forward line with the ability to make the most of the chances that come their way. Bayern Munich will need to ensure that if they take control of the game, they do not commit too many forward, and are aware of the counter attacking ability of Di Matteo’s side. This should be a fascinating clash of styles.
Read our Champions League final match preview.
