Shoot-out win ends Chelsea's long wait for glory

FC Bayern München 1-1 Chelsea FC (aet, Chelsea win 4-3 on penalties)

Chelsea finally claimed their first UEFA Champions League title, Didier Drogba converting the decisive spot kick to deny Bayern a home victory. 

 

Chelsea FC's long quest to win the UEFA Champions League finally reached a successful conclusion as a penalty shoot-out triumph ended FC Bayern München's hopes of becoming the first team to win the competition in their own stadium.  READ MORE...

Bayern pair enjoy home help

Captain Philipp Lahm has urged FC Bayern München to make the most of the "great anticipation" in the city as they prepare to play the UEFA Champions League final in their own stadium. 

 

FC Bayern München will break new ground on Saturday when they take on Chelsea FC at their Fußball Arena München home and Philipp Lahm is urging the German side to make the most of a rare opportunity.
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Jupp Heynckes believes FC Bayern München have a "little advantage" as UEFA Champions League final hosts but is equally aware of the threat of a "dangerous" Chelsea FC side. 

In terms of coaching experience, there is hardly any comparison – when Jupp Heynckes began his first spell in charge of FC Bayern München, Chelsea FC manager Roberto Di Matteo had yet to even make his professional debut as a player.  READ MORE...

Fair Play?

“It’s the sickest thing I’ve seen in Norwegian football ever. These are images that will go around the world!” – TV2 commentator Morten Langli. 

 

So what happened?

After a thrilling first period, Brann were 3-2 up at the start of the second half. Then, in the 49th minute, the match was halted as a Lillestrom player went down injured and the hosts kicked the ball into touch.

Etiquette dictates that Brann should have returned the ball back to Lillestrom once the play is resumed, and Erik Mjelde tried to do that. But he amazingly FAILED, scoring a freak 60-yard goal that incredibly bounced over keeper Stefan Magnusson and into the net.

After scoring came the question of conscience. Should Brann allow Lillestrom a goal to make amends for the freak golazo, or alternatively (considering the desperate need for points) should Leciejewski’s error be put down to his own foolishness and thus the match should carry on at 2-4? The Brann answer was mixed.

Whilst most in the visitors team allowed Lillestrom striker Bjorn Bergmann Sigurdarson a free passage on their goal, Brann goalie Piotr Leciejewski worked hard at trying to stop the striker from scoring. In the end though Sigurdarson buried his shot to leave the final scorecard reading 3-4.

Finalist profile: Bayern

Four-time winners of the European Cup, FC Bayern München are hoping to become the first side to lift the trophy at their own ground since FC Internazionale Milano in 1964/65. 

 

From the moment it was announced that the 2012 UEFA Champions League final would be held in Munich, FC Bayern München began to regard it as their destiny to take part. That dream eventually came true after a penalty shoot-out win against Real Madrid CF in the last four, and now the German giants are looking to lift their fifth European Cup and become the first side to do so on their own ground since FC Internazionale Milano triumphed at San Siro in 1965.  READ MORE...

Finalist profile: Chelsea

Chelsea FC's route to Munich has not been straightforward but the 2007/08 runners-up will go into their second final on a high having eliminated holders FC Barcelona in the last four. 

 

Chelsea FC head into this season's UEFA Champions League final against FC Bayern München looking to banish the memory of the 2007/08 showpiece when they lost to Manchester United FC on penalties. The Blues will be buoyed by their elimination of pre-tournament favourites and holders FC Barcelona in the semi-finals but are still widely considered to be the underdogs, with the final taking place at the Fußball Arena München, their opponents' home ground. However, Roberto Di Matteo's charges have upset the form book more than once en route to the final so will be confident of defying the odds again and claiming the biggest prize in European club football for the first time in their history.
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