© EuroFootball.com
Nerijus Mazėtis, 15min.lt
This Saturday in Munich, at the "Allianz" stadium, the most important battle of world football clubs will take place - the Champions League final between London's "Chelsea" and Munich's "Bayern" eleven. Will it be destined to fulfill the dream of "Chelsea" owner Roman Abramovich, or perhaps the Bavarians will raise the trophy above their heads for the fifth time in the club's history?
Losers' dance
Speaking of Champions League finals and Munich's footballers, you can't help but remember 1999 - the "Camp Nou" stadium and the three added minutes in the second half. Yes, it was salt in the wounds for "Bayern" fans, but for those less interested in football, I'll remind you that at that time, the "Bayern" team dominated the match against "Manchester United" in the final and had the victory in their hands with a 1-0 lead at the end of the match.
However, football is a cruel sport. In the final minutes of added time in the second half, the men from Manchester not only managed to equalize the score but also turn it around, with "Manchester United" legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sending the ball into the net on the third added minute of the second half. After the match, the then president of UEFA said: "I cannot believe it - the winners are crying, and the losers are dancing."
"Bayern" played in the Champions League final two years ago, when in Madrid, the pupils of then coach Louis van Gaal were defeated by the Milan "Inter" footballers coached by Jose Mourinho.
The Germans controlled the ball twice as long, but they bounced off the Italian defensive wall and couldn't find a way to the opponents' goal. Meanwhile, "Inter" team scored twice on fast counterattacks through Diego Milito. 2-0 there, another J. Mourinho triumph in the Champions League and the hopes of the German fans shattered once again.
Looking back at London's "Chelsea" finals, one doesn't have to look too far. The 2007-2008 season, Moscow, the opponent - "Manchester United". I believe many remember unfulfilled promises to paint the red field blue (blue is the official color of the "Chelsea" club).
Then the main match and extra time ended with a tie 1-1, and in the penalty shootout, the "Red Devils" proved their superiority. It is worth mentioning that the "Chelsea" club was very close to victory, but their team captain John Terry missed the decisive penalty.
On May 19th of this year, these two teams will have another chance. For "Chelsea," this will be only the second Champions League final, and for "Bayern" - the ninth. Four of them ended in victory (1974, 1975, 1976, and 2001).
Three main "Bayern" players Holger Badstuber, David Alaba, and Luiz Gustavo will miss the final due to cards. The question is, will there be replacements? I believe so.
First on the list is Thomas Muller. He is a player who played only a few minutes in the semi-final matches against Real Madrid, most likely because he is more of a creator than a destroyer, and that's exactly what the Munich eleven needed more against "Real".
Another on the list is defender Diego Contento, a young player with already important experience in key matches.
The dethroned queen of football, "Barcelona"
Does Chelsea's semi-final against Barcelona reflect the current strength of the team? I believe so.
It was hard and consistent defensive work and attempts to seize every opportunity on the counterattacks. The result - the invincible "Blaugrana" has been dethroned from the European football throne. And even though goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who has become a laughing stock due to poor performance, will no longer stand in the goal in the final, the hunger for goals of Fernando Torres should give hope to the aristocrats' fans.
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