The 2011/2012 Champions League Final, to be played between Chelsea and Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Saturday, 19th May 2012, is going to be a classic.

Both finalists were unfancied going into their respective semi-finals and they overcame unlikely odds to beat Real Madrid and Barcelona. While Bayern came through their two-legged showdown against Madrid with credit and praise for their ability to counter Madrid’s attacking verve and strength, Chelsea’s progress against Barcelona was very much a back to the walls job, and it’s this fantastic performance that has pundits pin the one-off final as more of an equal clash than it would seem on paper.

Indeed, the word out of Bayern is that they’re worried about Chelsea’s remarkable ability to win out of nothing, and while Drogba is playing for Chelsea, anything is possible.

Here’s our in-depth look at the 2012 Champions League final:

THE FINALISTS

THE ROAD TO THE FINAL

THE STADIUM

Home to FC Bayern München and TSV 1860 München, the Fußball Arena München will host the 2012 UEFA Champions League final following a decision made by the UEFA Executive Committee in January 2009. The showpiece will take place on Saturday 19 May 2012.

• The Fußball Arena München took less than three years to build from start to finish, and was completed on 30 April 2005. It was conceived following a referendum in October 2001 when 65.8% of Munich’s citizens voted to construct a new arena rather than regenerate the Olympiastadion, venue for the 1972 summer Olympic Games and previous home of Bayern and 1860 München.

• A year to the day after that vote, work commenced on the stadium, including the construction of the unique exterior. The Fußball Arena München’s transparent outer wall is comprised of foil panels which are lit from the inside and can change colour depending on who is playing; red for Bayern, blue for 1860 München and white for Germany.

• The arena opened its doors to competitive football on 5 August 2005 when a full house of 66,000 watched Bayern defeat VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-0. In January 2006, city authorities approved a 3,901 increase in capacity which means the stadium can now house 69,901 supporters. Some of these reside in standing terraces which are created for domestic games by converting 10,400 seats in each of the north and south stands.

• Located on Werner-Heisenberg-Allee – named after famous German atomic physicist and 1932 Nobel Prize for Physics winner Werner Heisenberg – the Fußball Arena München played host to the opening game of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Germany’s 4-2 victory against Costa Rica. A further five matches in the tournament were played at the arena, including France’s 1-0 semi-final win against Portugal.

• While some 106 VIP boxes, 400 media seats and 11,000 parking spaces cater for those attending the game, the players make do with two warm-up rooms, a nursery and four changing rooms – one each for Bayern, 1860 München and their respective opponents.

• The Olympiastadion hosted three European Champion Clubs’ Cup finals. Trevor Francis’s strike earned Nottingham Forest FC victory against Malmö FF in 1979 and there was also only one goal in it 24 years later when Olympique de Marseille beat AC Milan to claim the inaugural UEFA Champions League title. In 1997 two Karl-Heinz Riedle efforts set BV Borussia Dortmund on course for a 3-1 win against Juventus.

(source: uefa.com)

Munich finals have habit for upsets

The Fußball Arena München will stage its first European Champion Clubs’ Cup final when the UEFA Champions League concludes there on 19 May.

However, the Olympiastadion – which will host the UEFA Women’s Champions League decider on 17 May – staged the men’s showpiece three times, not to mention the 1974 FIFA World Cup and 1988 UEFA European Championship deciders. UEFA.com looks back at the three previous times the biggest fixture in European club football visited Munich.

28 May 1997 Bor. Dortmund 3-1 Juventus

The last European Cup final at the Olympiastadion was a triumph for Germany, but not FC Bayern München. Holders Juve started favourites but just as they had taken the title off AFC Ajax the year before, so Dortmund did to the Turin side what Hamburger SV had in the 1983 final. Karl-Heinz Riedle broke the deadlock just before the half-hour and five minutes later headed Dortmund two up. Substitute Alessandro Del Piero reduced arrears with a 64th-minute back-heel but Dortmund then brought on Lars Ricken. With his first touch he brilliantly chipped Angelo Peruzzi from long range to clinch his club’s first European title.

26 May 1993 Oly. de Marseille 1-0 AC Milan

Four years earlier, the first UEFA Champions League final had been at the Olympiastadion – again there was defeat for the Italian favourites. The all-star Milan team including Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard and a host of Italian internationals had already lifted the European Cup in 1989 and 1990. They would do so again in 1994, but on this occasion Marseille got the better of them courtesy of Basile Boli’s goal just before half-time. For the country which had invented the European Cup, it was a first triumph.

30 May 1979 Nott. Forest 1-0 Malmö FF

Two of European football’s less glamorous names had their day in the spotlight in the first Munich final. Injury-hit Malmö, the only ever Swedish finalists, presented a tough test for a Forest side aiming to keep the trophy in England following Liverpool FC’s triumphs in 1977 and 1978. Forest manager Brian Clough was able to give a competition debut to Trevor Francis, the first British player to be signed for £1m, and although he was fielded out on the right wing it was he who headed in John Robertson’s cross just before half-time to clinch the title.

(source: uefa.com)

THE TROPHY

In March 1967, UEFA’s Executive Committee decided, at a meeting in Vienna, to allow Real Madrid CF to keep the original trophy, a silver cup offered by L’Equipe, after the Spanish team’s sixth victory. The Executive Committee then made 10,000 Swiss francs – currently about 6,500 euros – available for a new trophy to be made.

It wasn’t a simple replica of the original cup as UEFA’s General Secretary at that time, Hans Bangerter, decided to create a new design and called in a local specialist in Berne, Jürg Stadelmann. The trophy handed to Liverpool in Istanbul was the fourth version of that design.

“My father Hans and I went along to Herr Bangerter’s office and covered the whole floor with the drawings,” recalled Stadelmann. “He made comments like, ‘The Bulgarians would like the bottom of that. The Spaniards would like that, but the Italians would prefer that and the Germans would go for this bit.’ We put the design together like a jigsaw puzzle. It was a design constituted of many parts yet I like it and I think everyone in football likes it as well.

“I remember that it had to be finished before 28 March,” Stadelmann added, “because I was getting married and taking my wife on a ten-day boat trip to Los Angeles. The trophy took 340 hours to make. I did the finer work, then it was finished off by the engraver, Fred Bänninger. On time, I am glad to say.”

The trophy is 62 centimetres tall and weighs 7.5kg. It may not be an artistic masterpiece, but everybody in football is keen to get their hands on it.

Nowadays, UEFA regulations allow the Cup to become the property of any club which wins the competition five times or three times in a row. That means that, after fifty years, only Real Madrid CF, AFC Ajax, FC Bayern München, AC Milan and Liverpool FC have earned the right to keep an original in their trophy rooms.

Fittingly, as the European Champion Clubs’ Cup reached the 50th anniversary of the first final in Paris in 2006, the second half-century of the competition kicked-off with a brand-new piece of silverware – produced by the same Bertoni workshop in Milan but, unlike its predecessors, with the names of all 50 winning clubs engraved on it.

A total of 45 different pairs of hands have lifted the Champion Clubs’ Cup since the Real Madrid CF skipper, Miguel Muñoz, first laid his hands on Europe’s most coveted prize in 1956. The roll of honour is an awesome list of some of the continent’s all-time greats, many of whom have gone on to make their mark in coaching after hanging up their boots. What’s more, fans who are superstitious about numbers might note that Bobby Charlton was captain No.9 to lift the trophy; Gianni Rivera was No. 10; and Johan Cruyff – just for a change – was No.14! Curiously, the FC Bayern München honorary president, Franz Beckenbauer, is the only captain to have received the cup three times and no one has lifted it in two consecutive seasons since Franco Baresi and his AC Milan team-mates were crowned kings of Europe in 1989 and 1990

(source: uefa.com)

THE BALL

The official match ball for the 2012 UEFA Champions League final – the adidas Finale Munich – has been officially presented at the venue for this season’s showpiece match, the Fußball Arena München.

As the 12th adidas supplied match ball for a UEFA Champions League final, the adidas Finale Munich will be the first “final ball” to be used throughout the UEFA Champions League knockout stages and not just for the final itself.

The ball’s graphics are inspired by the shape of the Fußball Arena München and they enhance its iconic starball logo design, while the blue and acqua tones are strongly influenced by the reflection of modern local architectural materials, which also build the UEFA Champions League Final Munich 2012 brand identity.

The adidas Finale Munich makes its debut tonight when the UEFA Champions League resumes with two of the eight round of 16 ties – the first leg matches between Olympique Lyonnais and APOEL FC, and Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Barcelona.

The UEFA Champions League final takes place in the Bavarian city on Saturday 19 May.

(source: uefa.com)

THE AMBASSADOR

Having lifted the European Champion Clubs’ Cup for FC Bayern München, scored in Germany’s victorious FIFA World Cup final in Munich and been brought up just 50km away there are few people better placed than Paul Breitner to act as ambassador for the 2012 UEFA Champions League final at the Fußball Arena Munchen on 19 May.

The former Real Madrid CF midfielder saw it all in a glittering 13-year player career, but the return of club football’s biggest game to Munich for a fourth time, and first at the new stadium, is a source of great pride for the 60-year-old. “The Champions League final next year in May is the highlight of the whole season, for the city of Munich and for Bayern,” he told UEFA.com. “”The people of Munich, including me, think we have the most beautiful city in the world”.”

As well as being a tourist attraction, Munich is also a footballing hotbed and the Fußball Arena Munchen, which opened in 2005 and houses almost 70,000 spectators for Bundesliga matches, is home to both TSV 1860 München and Bayern, Germany’s most successful club. And it was with the three-time European champions that Breitner first made his name in some 41 years ago.

“In 1970, it was a time of evolutionary change at Bayern Munich. Uli Hoeness, the current club president, and I arrived at the right time to grow into the team, to learn from Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller. We went through a development phase which led us, after our fourth season, to play in our first European Cup final, winning against Atlético Madrid in a replay after drawing the first match.”

That victory came in May 1974, two years after Breitner had helped West Germany win the UEFA European Championship, and two months before he lifted the World Cup. He would go on to become one of his country’s most successful footballers, winning five Bundesliga titles with Bayern and two Spanish championships with Madrid. In 1982 he became only the third player after Brazilians Vavá and Pelé to score in two World Cup finals (an elite club since joined by Zinédine Zidane).

(source: uefa.com)

THE OFFICIAL PROGRAMME

The Fußball Arena München will host the 2012 UEFA Champions League final and the 116-page official matchday programme is the perfect souvenir.

Packed with insight into the season’s most high-profile fixture, the programme features exclusive interviews with the two coaches as well as profiling the players who will perform on the ultimate stage on Saturday 19 May.

The matchday magazine also follows the two teams on the road to the Bavarian capital, and goes behind the scenes at each finalist club. The programme celebrates the great and good who have held the UEFA Champions League Trophy in triumph, including the heroes of the past Munich finals Trevor Francis, Basile Boli and Lars Ricken, while guiding readers through the culture – footballing and otherwise – of the host city and speaks to final ambassador Paul Breitner, among many features.

You may purchase the programme for £8.25 at the Official Online Store of the UEFA Champions League.

(source: uefa.com)

FACTS & FIGURES – THE FINAL

The following statistics were taken from the UEFA Champions League Statistics Handbook.
 

Finals: 19
Wins: 14
Draws: 5
Goals: 49
Average: 2.58
Extra-time: 5
Penalty shoot-outs: 5
Different results: 9
Most common outcome: 2-1 (4 times)
Both sides scoring: 10
One side scoring: 8
No goals: 1
Total time in minutes: 1860
Minutes per goal: 38
Red cards: 2

RESULTS SUMMARY

BIGGEST WINS

BIGGEST LEAD AT HALF-TIME

HIGHEST MATCH AGGREGATE

FINALS DECIDED BY A PENALTY SHOOT-OUT

MOST GOALS BY A PLAYER

TWO:

SCORING IN TWO DIFFERENT FINALS

RAÚL González (Real Madrid CF) in 2000 [1 goal], 2002 [1 goal]
Samuel ETO’O (FC Barcelona) in 2006 [1 goal], 2009 [1 goal]
Lionel MESSI (FC Barcelona) in 2009 [1 goal], 2011 [1 goal]

CLUBS FROM THE SAME NATION PLAYING IN THE FINAL

SAME CLUBS MEETING IN CHAMPION CLUBS’ CUP/UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINALS

Note: Real Madrid CF and Stade de Reims both played each other in the 1956 and 1959 Champion Clubs’ Cup final whilst AC Milan and SL Benfica met in 1963 and 1990

SUMMARY OF NATIONS PLAYING IN THE FINAL

THE VENUES (15)

Note: The old Wembley Stadium in London hosted five Champion Clubs’ Cup finals: 1963, 1968, 1971, 1978 and 1992 whilst the Heysel Stadion in Brussels staged the same number of games in 1958, 1966, 1974 (final and replay) and 1985.

Vienna’s Ernst-Happel-Stadion was the venue for 4 finals in 1964, 1987, 1990 and 1995

PLAYERS WHO HAVE MISSED FINALS DUE TO SUSPENSION

Alessandro COSTACURTA & Franco BARESI (AC Milan) v FC Barcelona 1994
Michael REIZIGER (AFC Ajax) v Juventus 1996
Roy KEANE & Paul SCHOLES (Manchester United FC) v FC Bayern München 1999
Amedeo CARBONI (Valencia CF) v Real Madrid CF 2000
ZE ROBERTO (Bayer Leverkusen) v Real Madrid CF 2002
Pavel NEDVED (Juventus) v AC Milan 2003
Eric ABIDAL & DANIEL ALVES (FC Barcelona) v Manchester United FC 2009
Darren FLETCHER (Manchester United FC) v FC Barcelona 2009
Franck RIBÉRY (FC Bayern München) v FC Internazionale Milano 2010
THIAGO MOTTA (FC Internazionale Milano) v FC Bayern München 2010
José PINTO (FC Barcelona) v Manchester United FC 2011

RED CARDS IN THE FINAL

RECORD OF THE TITLE HOLDER THE FOLLOWING SEASON

THE CLUBS WHO HAVE PLAYED IN THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL

SIX FINALS:
AC Milan (1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2005, 2007)

FOUR FINALS:
FC Barcelona (1994, 2006, 2009, 2011), Juventus (1996, 1997, 1998, 2003), Manchester United FC (1999, 2008, 2009, 2011)

THREE FINALS:
Real Madrid CF (1998, 2000, 2002), FC Bayern München (1999, 2001, 2010)

TWO FINALS:
AFC Ajax (1995, 1996), Valencia CF (2000, 2001), Liverpool FC (2005, 2007)

ONE FINAL:
Olympique de Marseille (1993), BV Borussia Dortmund (1997), Bayer 04 Leverkusen (2002), FC Porto (2004), AS Monaco FC (2004), Arsenal FC (2006), Chelsea FC (2008), FC Internazionale Milano (2010)

WINNERS OF THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TITLE

THREE TITLES:
AC Milan (1994, 2003, 2007), Real Madrid CF (1998, 2000, 2002), FC Barcelona (2006, 2009, 2011)

TWO TITLES:
Manchester United FC (1999, 2008)

ONE TITLE:
Olympique de Marseille (1993), AFC Ajax (1995), Juventus (1996), BV Borussia Dortmund (1997), FC Bayern München (2001), FC Porto (2004), Liverpool FC (2005), FC Internazionale Milano (2010)

RUNNERS-UP IN THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL

THREE FINALS:
Juventus (1997, 1998, 2003), AC Milan (1993, 1995, 2005)

TWO FINALS:
FC Bayern München (1999, 2010), Valencia CF (2000, 2001), Manchester United FC (2009, 2011)

ONE FINAL:
FC Barcelona (1994), AFC Ajax (1996), Bayer 04 Leverkusen (2002), AS Monaco FC (2004), Arsenal FC (2006), Liverpool FC (2007), Chelsea FC (2008), Manchester United FC (2009)

MOST SUCCESSFUL NATIONS IN THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL

SIX TITLES:
SPAIN (1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2009, 2011)

FIVE TITLES:
ITALY (1994, 1996, 2003, 2007, 2010)

THREE TITLES:
ENGLAND (1999, 2005, 2008)

TWO TITLES:
GERMANY (1997, 2001)

ONE TITLE:
FRANCE (1993), NETHERLANDS (1995), PORTUGAL (2004)
 
 

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Chelsea and Bayern Munich go head-to-head in this season’s Champions League final on Saturday at the Allianz Arena, in what should be a mouth-watering clash. The Germans are favourites due to playing at home, however the Blues have upset Barcelona and are in great form in Europe. With two-evenly-matched sides taking centre stage it is sure to be a great Champions League final; here are five betting tips worth looking into.

Ladbrokes are offering a £50 free bet for all new customers registering for the service; all you have to do is enter the FB50 promo code and make a bet!

Chelsea to win the trophy

Roberto Di Matteo’s men have a double incentive to win the trophy this year, as a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League sees them ready to miss out on Europe’s top tournament next season if they lose on Saturday. The Stamford Bridge club are looking to make amends for losing at the last stage in 2008, and have conquered adversity this season on the continent. Back the Blues to win the trophy at 7/4.

Full-time Score 2-2

Finals are usually cagey affairs and in plenty of instances in the recent memory extra time and penalties has been needed to decide a winner. There is every chance that this game could go down to the wire, and may not be decided in 90 minutes. Add to this that both sides are missing key defenders due to suspension and there could be goals in this one. Back a 2-2 draw at full time at odds of 16/1.

Drogba to score first

Didier Drogba is potentially playing his last game for the west London side, as his contract runs out in the summer and negotiations have not yet been fruitful. The Ivory Coast international is sure to lead the line for the Blues, and has scored important goals this term, especially in the FA Cup final against Liverpool and Champions League semi-final against Barcelona. Pick the African forward to score first at odds of 8/1.

Chelsea to be winning on the 75 minute mark

Bayern are a stubborn opponent, and at times this season have won fixtures or points by scoring a late goal. A classic example of this is Mario Gomez’s winner against Real Madrid in the semi-final first leg, and at home the German side will be motivated to play to the final whistle. Back Chelsea to be winning at the 75 minute mark however at odds of 3/1.

Chelsea to score first and last

The Blues may well need a couple of goals to win the trophy, or one goal and dedicated defending could be enough to claim glory. Chelsea too have the heart to come back from a deficit, and have scored the first goal in every knockout round of the tournament this year. If you think Chelsea will score first and last, odds of 5/1 look favourable.

So what are you waiting for? With the Champions League the last club game before Euro 2012, look to Ladbrokes for the latest and betting odds ahead of Saturday’s crunch fixture.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

It has been quite the Champions League campaign this season, with a number of shocks, surprises and upsets, none more so than the fact that Chelsea ousted Barcelona in the semi-finals to set up a final against Bayern Munich. With the last fixture taking place at Die Roten’s home, the Allianz Arena, the Bundesliga giants will be favourites, but the Blues should not be written off; here’s why:

1) Roberto Di Matteo and recent resurgence

The Chelsea side that was comprehensively beaten 3-1 in San Paolo by Napoli earlier this campaign in Andre Villas-Boas’ last European fixture in charge, looks like a different team to the current crop. Under interim boss Roberto Di Matteo the Blues have refound their confidence, with the playing squad seemingly rejuvenated under the former Chelsea midfielder. The Italian is fighting to become the club’s boss on a permanent basis, and lifting the Champions League would surely force Roman Abramovich’s hand. Despite being favourites, Bayern will have to work hard to overcome a team in form and a manager on a mission.

2) A last hurray for the old guard

With the signings of Marko Marin and Kevin De Bruyne the first of plenty this summer, Chelsea are expected to bring in a host of younger players to inject a fresh feel into their squad. This may well mean the end for a number of the established players that have been the basis of the Stamford Bridge side over the last five years. The likes of Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda and even Frank Lampard may well make an exit from west London at the end of the campaign, making them more motivated to end on a high.

3) Bayern’s questionable defence

Although the Bavarian side’s rearguard has improved since last season, there are still question marks over their central defenders. Jerome Boateng has been used in the middle of the defence despite playing the majority of his football on the flanks, whilst Holger Badstuber is suspended for the game against the Blues. With left-back David Alaba also unavailable, Bayern may well be down to their bare bones. The Premier League side will be aware of this and look to attack the heart of the hosts.

4) Cup final glory and disaster

Both Bayern and Chelsea have played domestic cup finals since qualifying for the Champions League decider, with one sealing glory and the other tasting bitter defeat. The Blues beat Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley to lift the FA Cup, and will now be keen to seal a dramatic double. The Bavarians on the other hand were ruthlessly dispatched 5-2 by domestic nemesis’ Borussia Dortmund in the DFB Pokal final a week before the Champions League game, which will have severely dented Jupp Heynckes’ side’s confidence.

5) Chelsea need to win to qualify for next year

Although next season will be far away in the thoughts of the players in the Champions League final, the Blues will know that they need to win the tournament this term to be involved in 2012-13. With the club finishing a disappointing sixth in the Premier League table, this is the last chance for the west London outfit to salvage their campaign and ensure that they can fight for Europe’s top tournament again next campaign.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

For a professional footballer there is nothing worse than being injured, but with the physical nature of the sport, injuries are always going to happen. Despite the modern day footballer honing his body to become a complete athlete, knocks, niggles and ailments can take their toll.

With important fixtures piling up thick and fast at this time of the year, managers pray that their star players stay fit, and will try just about anything to speed up the player’s rehabilitation if they get injured. Here are a number of alternative medical treatments from the world of football.

Horse Placenta

A growing phenomenon in sporting medical circles is the use of horse placenta to treat muscle tears. Robin van Persie is probably the most high-profile case of a player undergoing the treatment, but Frank Lampard and Glen Johnson are thought to have tried the strange method also.

Serbian woman Marian Kovacevic is said to charge €3,000 per session, but her methods have come under scrutiny from the authorities. Despite this, Van Persie is said to have benefited from Kovacevic rubbing the placenta into his damaged muscles, and has heralded her as ‘a miracle’ in the past.

Faith Healing

Glenn Hoddle and his faith healer Eileen Drury are the most well-known case of this eccentric treatment. The former Tottenham midfielder claims that Drury helped him recover from injury during his playing career, and duly hired her as a consultant for the England team during his management at the 1998 World Cup.

The nation’s players did not take the unorthodox methods as seriously as their manager however, with Ray Parlour famously asking for ‘a short back and sides’ when lying on Drury’s treatment table.

Goat’s Blood

Bayern Munich medic Dr. Hans Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt is said to deploy treatments slightly off the beaten track, and prescribed goat’s blood to St Johnstone attacker Peter MacDonald when he approached the German doctor for help.

The striker explained:

“The specialist said my hamstring was too tight and I had goats’ blood injections. That’s the best for loosening it off.”

Dental Treatments

Both Florent Malouda and Robin van Persie have claimed to be more injury-free after having teeth removed, as dental issues and muscle injuries have been linked by some osteopaths. The Chelsea winger accredits the removal of wisdom teeth for an upturn in fitness and form in his early days at Stamford Bridge.

Viagra

In South America altitude can be an issue for certain teams and players, with Bolivian team Blooming giving their players Viagra before games at large distances above sea level. The sex drug is believed to help combat altitude issues due to increased blood flow, and some teams competing in the Copa Libertadores use the drug also.

The Dick van Toorn experience

Many Dutch players have defied medical opinion by recovering from muscle tears in a fraction of the expected rehabilitation time due to Feyenoord physio Dick van Toorn. The likes of Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben are current clients of the elderly medical man.

Van der Vaart explains the methods that Van Toorn adopted to get him back playing two weeks after a hamstring strain, when he was expected to be sidelined for a month and a half:

The Spurs man admitted:

“I go there and after one week, I can run and shoot again. It’s a lot of acupuncture, chiropractic work… and a lot of power training. You have a lot of pain when you have pulled your hamstring, for example, but he is still training, training, training. I always go there for four days and it’s two four-hour sessions per day.”

So there you have it – it’s not all ice baths and the gym when recovering from injury, as footballers look to any and all methods to get them back in action.

Related Posts:
Top 10 Horror Football Injuries
Injury: The Curse Of The Modern Footballer
Can Football Boots Cause Injuries?

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

When players are being taught the basics of the game as youngsters, one of the key messages is to play until the final whistle. If your team goes a couple of goals down more often than not the result will not be in your favour, but sometimes the spectacular can happen.

Following Manchester United’s recovery from three goals down to get a 3-3 draw against Chelsea recently, here are football’s ten greatest comebacks:

Liverpool vs AC Milan

Liverpool fans travelled to Istanbul for the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan with great expectations. However after seeing their side slip to a 3-0 half time deficit, not even the most ardent Merseyside supporter could have imagined their team’s comeback. Goals from Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso brought the game back level, and The Reds claimed victory in the eventual penalty shoot out.

Tottenham vs Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United side found themselves 3-0 down at the hands of Tottenham in September 2001, with goals from debutant Dean Richards, Christian Ziege and Les Ferdinand giving the White Hart Lane hosts a comfortable lead. However a Spurs capitulation and strikes from Andy Cole, Laurent Blanc, Ruud van Nistlerooy, Juan Sebastian Veron and David Beckham saw United win 5-3.

Tottenham vs Manchester City

Tottenham found themselves three goals to the good once more in February 2004, this time against the Blue side of Manchester. Ledley King, Robbie Keane and Christian Ziege (again) had Spurs in a dominant position, and Joey Barton had been sent off for City. Despite this, the ten-man visitors rallied in the second period and goals from Sylvain Distin, Paul Bosvelt, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Jonathan Macken gave City an unlikely win.

Cheltenham vs Burton Albion

Cheltenham fans won’t forget March 13th 2010 any time soon, as their side came back from losing 5-3 against Burton Albion with five minutes remaining to win 6-5. A Justin Richards strike and two late goals in the dying minutes by Michael Pook saw The Robins record a memorable victory.

Bayer Uerdingen vs Dynamo Dresden

Going back to 1986, Dynamo Dresden had beaten Bayer Uerdingen 2-0 in the first leg of a German cup tie, and were again winning 3-1 at half time in the second leg to give them a seemingly unassailable 5-1 aggregate lead with 45 minutes to play. However Uerdingen hadn’t read the script and scored six unanswered goals in the second half to record a historic 7-5 aggregate win.

Deportivo La Coruna vs AC Milan

After a commanding 4-1 win at the San Siro, Carlo Ancelotti’s AC Milan side looked destined for the 2004 Champions League semi finals. However Deportivo had other ideas, as Walter Pandiani, Juan Carlos Valeron, Alberto Luque and Fran all scored at the Riazor to send the Spaniards into ecstasy in a 4-0 win.

Mancheter United vs Bayern Munich

Forever etched into Manchester United fans’ memories, the 1999 Champions League final must go down as one of the best comebacks of all time. With a 1-0 deficit to overcome and the game in injury time, substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both found the net in stoppage time to give the Englishmen a 2-1 victory at the Camp Nou.

Fulham vs Juventus

Fulham’s first ever appearance in the Europa League in 2010 was an eventful one, and they met Italian giants Juventus in the round of 16. After a 3-1 defeat in Turin, both sides had scored at Craven Cottage to given Juve a comfortable 4-2 aggregate advantage. However a Bobby Zamora strike, a brace from Zoltan Gera and an 82nd minute winner from Clint Dempsey gave The Cottagers an unforgettable 5-4 aggregate victory.

Chelsea vs Arsenal

Tore Andre Flo and Dan Petrescu had given Chelsea a 2-0 lead against Arsenal back in 1999, and the Stamford Bridge club looked comfortable amongst their fans chants of ‘we want five’. However Arsene Wenger threw on Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu, who duly scored a hat-trick to give the Gunners a 3-2 win in wet and windy conditions.

Metz vs Barcelona

Back in the 1984 European Cup Winners Cup, Spanish giants Barcelona had a 5-2 aggregate lead over French opponents Metz after a 4-2 victory in the away leg and an early goal at the Camp Nou. However, the Stade Municipal outfit scored four goals to record a 5-4 victory over the Catalans, with Zvonko Kurbos grabbing a hat-trick to ensure we are talking about him over 25 years later.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

An unlikely Champions League final of Bayern Munich vs Chelsea is set to be played at the Allianz Arena on May 19th, as the sides have both proved their worth to overcome underdogs tags to make the final. Champions League final tickets are already in short supply with UEFA allocating a major chunk of them to sponsors, but whatever’s left will be immediately bought by supporters of both sides.

Bayern Munich

After the naming of the Allianz Arena as the venue for the 2011-12 final, all Bayern eyes have been on this campaign, which has been rightly earmarked as a potential opportunity to end their 11-year drought in winning Europe’s top tournament. With the Bundesliga also a priority but now conceded once more to Borussia Dortmund, the chance of becoming European champions has the ability to redeem the club’s season.

The German team were drawn in the ‘group of death’ along with Manchester City, Napoli and Villarreal, but stellar home form saw Die Roten top the pool. A 2-0 win over the Premier League team set the tone for the group, whilst a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Napoli ensured that the Germans would be dominant. Despite losing their final game at the Etihad Stadium once qualification was already ensured, Bayern’s professionalism and quality in the pool must be admired.

After flexing their European muscles in the pool, the knockout stages has been a story of the club’s determination to reach the final. After a 1-0 defeat to Basel in Switzerland in the first leg of the last 16, doubts over Jupp Heycnkes’ men’s credentials were raised and duly squashed with an unprecedented 7-0 triumph in the reverse fixture. The Germans were drawn against an underperforming Marseille in the quarter-finals, and despite the mediocrity of the opponent, a 4-0 aggregate win must be admired.

Real Madrid in the semi-finals was the Bundesliga team’s real test, and over 210 minutes of football and penalty kicks, Bayern proved that they wanted victory more. An attacking outlook in the first game at home had Los Blancos on the back foot, and a plucky last-minute Mario Gomez goal gave them an advantage at half way of the tie. Within 14 minutes of the game at the Santiago Bernabeu fixture the Bavarians found themselves 2-0 down, but the side fought back to 2-1 and eventually won the tie on penalties.

All-in-all, Bayern are a more assured and rounded team than last season, and have had to fight back from difficult positions at times throughout the campaign. In Mario Gomez the side have a forward always liable to pop up with a goal, especially given the quality supply of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben. The main development from last term however has been a steadying of the backline, with the summer additions of Jerome Boateng and Manuel Neuer now looked like excellent business. Add this all-rounded team to a frightening home record (they have won every game this season at the Allianz Arena) and Bayern will take some stopping.

Chelsea

Chelsea have been two contrasting teams in the Champions League this term; one under Andre Villas Boas and one under Roberto Di Matteo. The Italian has rekindled the side’s belief, and ultimately been the man responsible for getting the west Londoners to the final hurdle.

The Blues topped Group E, comprising Bayer Leverkusen, Valencia and Genk, despite a number of shaky moments. A 2-1 defeat to the Germans at the BayArena and a 0-0 draw with the Belgians away from home failed to inspire, but the English team did win all three home games, scoring 10 unanswered goals in the process.

A last 16 tie with Napoli, Manchester City’s conquerors, promised to be an exciting match-up and did not disappoint. After being thoroughly outplayed and beaten 3-1 at San Paolo, Villas Boas was replaced by Di Matteo, whose side staged a remarkable and unlikely comeback to beat the Italians 4-1 at Stamford Bridge in the return leg. This was undoubtedly the turning point of the Blues’ season, and the springboard that sees them in the final.

A potential banana-skin tie awaited Chelsea in the quarter-finals, as Benfica, who progressed through their group at the expense of Manchester United, would prove no pushovers. However, an assured performance at the Estadio da Luz saw a 1-0 win for the Premier League outfit, who huffed and puffed to win the return fixture 2-1 also. Brave team selection in the away leg by Di Matteo reaped benefits, and set up a semi-final with Barcelona.

Chelsea had unfinished business against the Catalan giants after previous close calls, and over 180 minutes rode their luck but ultimately did what it took to make the final. Despite being outplayed in the first leg, a 1-0 victory courtesy of a solitary Didier Drogba strike gave the Blues the slimmest of advantages to take to Camp Nou. After 44 minutes of the second leg Chelsea were staring down the barrel: trailing 2-0 and down to ten men after John Terry’s dismissal. However, a deft Ramires chip, stern defensive effort and last-gasp Fernando Torres strike offered up a memorable night for the travelling support.

Over the course of the campaign it is difficult to pick out individuals who have inspired their team to progression, as the upturn in fortunes must be accredited to a collective team effort. Undoubtedly Chelsea’s senior players have led this, and Didier Drogba, out of contract in the summer and facing an exit from the club, must get credit for his goals and leading from the front. Di Matteo’s tactics and man management must also be heralded, and the Italian must surely be given a permanent place on the Stamford Bridge hotseat should his team defeat Bayern in the final.

At times with more grit than guile, Bayern and Chelsea deserve their places in what should be a blood and thunder final. The Bavarians have an exemplary home record, but on current form, if anyone can beat them at the Allianz Arena it may well be the west London outfit.

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After Chelsea’s success in Spain the previous night, Real Madrid would have been looking to add further insult to rivals Barcelona following their win over them at the weekend, by doing what Barcelona could not do and reach the Champions League Final.

Cristiano Ronaldo was wearing a pair of sail/red Mercurial Vapor 8 football boots, changing things up for the first time since the Vapor VIII were launched by not wearing the Bright Mango pair. After just fifteen minutes Ronaldo and his new boots looked to be cruising their way to the final, two quick Ronaldo goals, saw Real move into an early lead over Bayern Munich.

The first, a lesson to his La Liga counterpart Messi, was a sweetly struck penalty, awarded, after Alaba was judged, perhaps harshly, to have handled the ball. The second saw Ronaldo this time coolly finish off a pass by Ozil with an immaculate shot into the bottom left hand corner of the goal.

After that the game did not go the way the Real Madrid fans and team would have wanted. Bayern Munich slowly forced there way back into the game and drew level in the 27th minute when Robben made amends for an earlier miss with a penalty that crept into the corner of the goal despite Madrid keeper Casillas getting a hand to it. From then on the game ebbed and flowed with Bayern Munich possibly having the best of it. Real Madrid kept up the pressure though with a number of free kicks by Ronaldo.

With ninety minutes completed, and the result being the only one that could see the tie ending in a draw, the match went into extra time. After a frantic two halves the football slowed up perhaps understandably as nervousness and tiredness set in. The best attacking play came in the 27th minute of extra time when Marcelo dribbled the ball from his out of his own box before releasing a pass that found Higuain who though had run into an offside position. Unfortunately for Madrid, Ronaldo had been coming up behind Higuain in an on side position, and would have been clean through on goal if the pass had reached him instead.

That was the closest either side came, and the game drifted to a penalty shoot-out, the first in a Champion leagues semi-final since 2007 when eventual winners Liverpool beat Chelsea. Germans sides have an enviable reputation for being successful in penalty shoot outs, but neither side had ever been eliminated from Europe’s premier club competition before in this way, so something had to give.

The Germans got off to the best possible starts in the shoot-out when Ronaldo looking to hit the back of the net for the third time of the night with his new football boots, saw Neuer save his and then Kaka’s penalties. It was only the second time in twenty-four penalties for Real that Ronaldo has missed.

The Spaniards got themselves back in it after Bayern saw their next two penalties saved and Real Madrid’s Alonso scored. Sergio Ramos however blasted his penalty not just over the bar, but nearly out the stadium, leaving it to Schweinsteiger to slot home his penalty and send Bayern Munich to meet Chelsea in the final on 19 May at their own stadium – a final no one really expected a couple weeks ago.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

The Netherlands international team go into this summer’s Euro 2012 tournament as one of the favourites and frontrunners, with quality throughout Bert van Marwijk’s side.

However, unfortunately the Eredivisie has lost its ability to keep the best homegrown players in the country and Ajax’s UEFA Champions League glory of 1995 seems like an eternity ago.

For the national team’s last game, a friendly against Germany, only seven of the 21-man squad ply their club trade in the Dutch homeland, and this was without a number of big-name exports who were rested.

Holland certainly has produced a raft of great players over the last ten years that have graced other European leagues, with the ten best as follows:

Rafael van der Vaart

Rafael VDV for Spurs

Rafael van der Vaart left Ajax in 2005 to join Real Madrid, before moving on to Hamburg; he now plays in England for Tottenham. The playmaker has amassed 93 international caps despite only being 28, and is a key player in Harry Redknapp’s revitalised Spurs team.

Jaap Stam

Stam for Ajax

Netherlands is known for its attacking players who play total football, but Jaap Stam epitomises a fantastic defensive combatant from the nation. A rock of a central defender, Stam left PSV in the late 1990′s and enjoyed playing at the highest level for Manchester United, Lazio and AC Milan. Famed for his no-nonsense approach, Stam won 67 caps for his nation before retiring in 2007.

Arjen Robben

Robben for Bayern Munich

The skilful winger left PSV in 2004 and has since been an important player for Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, as well as the national side. Robben is one of the best dribblers in recent memory, with his trickery, pace and eye for goal an asset for every team he has represented. Robben has won top flight titles in Holland, England, Spain and Germany, but is yet to win the Champions League.

Robin van Persie

RVP for the Gunners

A product of the Feyenoord academy, Van Persie left Netherlands in 2004 to join Arsenal, and he is currently their captain and talisman. The in-form striker is currently the Premier League’s top goalscorer this term, the winner of the PFA Player of the Year award and undoubtedly one of the most dangerous and prolific attackers in the European game.

Edgar Davids

Davids for the Dutch

One of the most iconic footballers of his generation, Davids’ will to win and determination set a precedent for the rest of Europe in the 2000′s. Played at the highest level for AC Milan, Juventus, Barcelona and Inter Milan, before stepping out for Tottenham and Crystal Palace in the latter days of his career.

Part of Ajax’s golden generation and the Champions League winning side of 1995. Davids won three Serie A titles but never lifted Europe’s top club trophy again after leaving Amsterdam.

Ruud van Nistelrooy

Ruud for Man Utd

Ten years playing for Manchester United and Real Madrid show Van Nistelrooy’s undoubted quality, with a goal record to envy. The Dutch marksman has also played for Hamburg and Malaga since leaving his homeland, and still continues to be a goal threat in La Liga despite being 35-years-old.

35 international goals and three top flight titles ensure that Van Nistlerooy will be remembered as one of the country’s top centre forwards.

Mark van Bommel

van Bommel for Milan

Former PSV midfielder Mark van Bommel has played at the very highest level since leaving Holland in 2005, having worn the colours of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AC Milan. The current Holland captain has one last international tournament in him this summer, and will look to add to his medal collection of four Eredivisie titles, one La Liga title, one Serie A title, two Bundesliga titles and a Champions League victory.

Edwin van der Sar

van der Sar for Man Utd

The now-retired goalkeeper plied his trade in Italy for Juventus, before representing Fulham and Manchester United in England. Four Premier League titles and a Champions League medal are just reward for the 41-year-old, who hung up his boots last summer. Sir Alex Ferguson is yet to fully replace Van der Sar, who himself stepped into the massive shoes of Peter Schmeichel at Old Trafford, and excelled.

Wesley Sneijder

Sneijder for Inter

Arguably one of the best playmakers in the modern game, Sneijder left Ajax in 2007 after five years with the senior side to join Real Madrid. After two seasons the attacking midfielder departed the Santiago Bernabeu to join Inter, and was the subject of a protracted transfer saga over a potential move to Manchester United last summer.

League titles in Italy and Spain have been backed up by Champions League success; Sneijder is truly one of Holland’s best recent exports.

Clarence Seedorf

Seedorf for Milan

One of Holland’s greatest ever players, Clarence Seedorf is still an integral player for Italian champions AC Milan at 35-years-old. The veteran midfielder has an unbelievable trophy haul at club level, with Champions League titles with Ajax, Real Madrid and twice with AC Milan. 87 international caps and over a decade of playing at the highest level, Clarence Seedorf is Netherlands top export.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

It’s a rare sight to see Bayern Munich fail to win the Bundesliga title multiple seasons in a row, but that looks set to occur after a week that saw them all but concede the title to reigning champions Borussia Dortmund.

However, there’s still a chance to have some real joy this season, if they can somehow take down Real Madrid to reach their second Champions League final in three seasons. The expectation is that they won’t, but the opportunity is there to play the final at their home stadium, and as such opportunities so rarely come around, the effort and motivation levels will be through the roof.

Bayern, when in high gear, are relentless and ruthless, but they might have to ‘settle’ for being more efficient and opportunistic over the two legs if it produces the desired result. They didn’t excel in such an endeavor against Dortmund last Wednesday, holding an edge in possession but failing to make anything of it and eventually losing their composure, the game, and likely the title.

They did, however, do it with better accuracy in the away leg of their Champions League quarterfinal against Marseille. Bayern registered only six shots on goal on the night, but three of those shots were on target, and two of those three shots found ‘the’ target in a 2-0 win.

Of course, Marseille, who were dispatched 4-0 on aggregate, are awful at present, while Real Madrid, even on a bad day, are better than most, but the lesson about making the most of golden opportunities is a universal one in football. Real will allow Bayern their share of opportunities, but whether they have twenty shots or Cristiano Ronaldo alone has more shots than Bayern do as a team, clear chances will be few, and they need to be capitalized on.

Clear chances might be few on both ends, not because either side has an especially fearsome back four, but because this matchup offers up a showdown, if you will, two of the three best keepers in the world, in Iker Casillas and Manuel Neuer. Sure, opportunism in attack is key, because goals will definitely be needed to win this tie. But Bayern’s chances to wreck Real’s final dreams lie as much in and on Neuer’s hands, and Casillas will have to stand tall for Real, especially with Arjen Robben’s propensity for long-distance crackers in mind.

Robben isn’t the only man Bayern have who can turn a match on its head at any moment, and for that reason, they aren’t a team that will be intimidated. They can hold their own against Real in an open game, especially in the first leg in the friendly confines of the Allianz Arena. But with the need to limit how many away goals Real have to take back to Madrid, it all goes back to efficiency and opportunism winning out over going all out.

Away goals came into play the last time these two sides met, in the round of 16 in 2007. In the first leg at the Bernabeu, Real were up 3-1 at the break thanks to a Raul brace, and they would go on to take the victory. But Mark van Bommel’s late, late strike in that tie would prove to be much more than a consolation goal for Bayern, as it meant that a 2-1 home win in the second leg was enough to see them through to the quarters, where they were eliminated by eventual champions AC Milan.

Only a handful of current players on both sides combined were a part of the ties five years ago, when there wasn’t the gap between the best of the best and the rest of Europe’s upper echelon as there is now, with Barcelona and Real Madrid palpably ahead of the likes of Bayern, Manchester United, AC Milan, and others.

In between the first and second legs, Real have the small matter of the latest edition of their heated – and that’s putting it mildly – rivalry with Barcelona, who will be looking to trim Real’s lead at the top of La Liga to only a point with four matches remaining. And while both sides have Champions League semifinals to think about, it’s doubtful to have an effect on the amount of energy and emotion that’s expended on their showdown at the Camp Nou. On the other hand, Bayern have a trip to Werder Bremen, and while they do need a win to keep their faint title hopes alive for a little longer, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them rest a few of their key players, just as they did in last Saturday’s goalless home draw against Mainz.

Could that prove to make a difference? It could if a rash tackle leads to an injury, a situation that both Real and Barca should be smart enough to try to avoid, or Real were following up a Saturday match at Barcelona with a Tuesday tie in Munich, but that isn‘t the case, as the second leg will be next Wednesday in Madrid. Besides, it might be more of an advantage for Real, whose level of intensity and focus won’t be allowed to drop between the first and second legs.

But it’s safe to say that Real have enough advantages in this tie, and as such, they will successfully navigate the last hurdle that stands in the way of a Champions League final Clasico against their archrivals. For Bayern, there’ll be no shame in defeat, but defeat will be a huge disappointment nonetheless, with next month’s DFB Pokal final serving as little consolation for high expectations and hopes gone unfulfilled.

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From Soccerlens.com - Football News

In the history of the European Cup/Champions League, there have been only three occasions that one of the finalists was in a final held at their home stadium: 1957 (Real Madrid – beat Fiorentina), 1964 (Inter – beat Benfica), and 1984 (AS Roma – lost to Liverpool).

Real Madrid fell just short last season when they fell in the semis to eventual champions Barcelona, and this year, it’s Bayern Munich who are within reach of adding their name to that short list. If they reach the semis, they’ll be underdogs against Real, who are all but assured of a berth in the last four after last night’s 3-0 away win over APOEL Nicosia. But they’re undisputed favorites in their quarterfinal tie against Marseille, who come into tonight’s first leg in absolutely horrific form. Didier Deschamps’ side had lost seven matches in a row in all competitions before Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Nice, were shocked in the Coupe de France quarterfinals by third division strugglers Quevilly, and presently sit ninth in the Ligue 1 table, 20 points behind leaders PSG.

Yet they’re somehow in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, because they had the good fortune of drawing another struggling top team, Inter, in the round of 16. Marseille eked out a 1-0 win at the Stade Velodrome in the first leg, thanks to Andre Ayew’s late, late winner, and that narrow win would prove to be all the difference. In the second leg, extra time looked to be on the cards when Diego Milito put Inter 1-0 up on 75, but in the second minute of injury time, Brandao struck to give Marseille a priceless away goal. Inter would win on the night 2-1, thanks to a meaningless penalty at the death, but Marseille edged the tie on away goals thanks to those late heroics by the Brazilian, who had only entered the match in the 88th minute.

Talent certainly isn’t an issue for Marseille, with top-class attacking players like Ayew, Loic Remy, and Mathieu Valbuena in their side, but their recent form can’t be overlooked. But even if their performances against Bayern far exceed their recent showings, it’s tough to see their run continuing past this point. A win at home in tonight’s first leg wouldn’t be an overwhelming surprise, but holding that advantage at the Allianz Arena is a task that would be beyond them.

Sure, they’ve been awful away from home recently, with five defeats and the draw at Nice in their last six away matches in all competitions, but that statement has less to do with their form and more to do with the quality of Bayern.

Bayern may well go a second straight season without a Bundesliga title, as they’re five points behind reigning champions Borussia Dortmund with only seven matches left, but there are only a few teams in Europe that are as good or better – or more merciless when they‘re on top of their game. They finished top of a difficult Champions League group that included Manchester City and Napoli, and after surprisingly losing the away leg of their round of 16 tie against FC Basel, crushed the Swiss side 7-0 in the second leg.

Marseille are going to have their hands full with Bayern striker Mario Gomez, who scored four of the seven goals against Basel and has 36 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions this season. They’re also going to have to deal with the dynamic duo of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, who have few equals when they’re at their best.

Marseille’s defense won’t be able to shut down Bayern, and as such, they’re going to have to produce on the attacking end if they want to have a chance to do the unlikely. As mentioned, they have firepower in their ranks, but that firepower hasn’t produced much lately, and that won’t cut it against a Bayern side that can run rampant on any given day. Bayern have the chance to accomplish a rare feat, and while the next round could be where those hopes end, this round will not be.

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