Bayern Munich and Chelsea have a brief, but memorable history in the Champions League.
On just the two occasions the pair faced one another, 11 goals were scored. Just as synonymous with the tie as Frank Lampard's exceptional goal is, rather bizarrely, a laundry basket.
LAMPARD STRIKES PAST KAHN
In the basket case was Jose Mourinho. Allegedly, anyway. Banned from the touchline for the quarter-final tie after his allegations against referee Anders Frisk the previous round, he supposedly had himself smuggled into the home dressing room.
Rui Faria, his assistant at Stamford Bridge as he is now at Real Madrid, was wearing a beanie hat on a suspiciously mild evening. Something chunky appeared to lurk underneath it as Faria chatted to himself. Or a mobile phone...
Ahead of Saturday's Munich final, there are no hints of any similar quirks. For both sides, European football has proven to be escapism away from the domestic doldrums. Chelsea may have won the FA Cup, but their Premier League campaign has been their worst in 11 years.
They do at least have silverware, unlike Bayern. Borussia Dortmund retained their Bundesliga title before battering the Bavarians 5-2 in last week's DFB-Poka final, with the Reds' defence still susceptible to spectacular capitulations. Even with Manuel Neuer.
BAYERN BEATEN BY BORUSSIA
Yet the Champions League has been the club's priority. With the final being at their Allianz Arena stadium, the incentive has spurred Jupp Heynckes' team on, and they deservedly progressed ahead of Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
Bayern are aiming for their first European Cup win since success at San Siro in 2001, as they bid to add to their three-in-a-row haul of the 1970s.
Their opponents meanwhile are seeking their first. Four years on from John Terry's tears in the Moscow rain, this Blues squad is inferior but arguably more resolute.
Roberto di Matteo has infused them with harmony too. And with a European Cup winners' medal the one major trinket to have eluded the likes of Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and the banned Terry, this potential one last chance has been an extra source of motivation.
Heynckes himself has lost a final as a player. A loser to Liverpool with Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1977, 21 years later as manager he guided Real Madrid to their first European Cup triumph in 32 years with victory over Juventus in 1998. He was dismissed shortly afterwards.
SUSPENDED INDIVIDUALS
Bayern Munich
Holger Badstuber, David Alaba, Luiz Gustavo
Chelsea
John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Raul Meireles, Ramires
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Chelsea v Bayern Munich
LONDON - APRIL 6: Chelsea team line up prior to the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg match between Chelsea and Bayern Munich at Stamford Bridge on April 6, 2005 in London, England. (Photo by Ben Radford/Getty Images)
Chelsea v Bayern Munich
LONDON - APRIL 6: Joe Cole of Chelsea celebrates scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg match between Chelsea and Bayern Munich at Stamford Bridge on April 6, 2005 in London, England. (Photo by Ben Radford/Getty Images)
Chelsea v Bayern Munich
LONDON - APRIL 6: Joe Cole of Chelsea scores the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg match between Chelsea and Bayern Munich at Stamford Bridge on April 6, 2005 in London, England. (Photo by Ben Radford/Getty Images)
Chelsea's John Terry (L) and Bayern Muni
LONDON, United Kingdom: Chelsea's John Terry (L) and Bayern Munich's goalkeeper Oliver Kahn collide as Chelsea's Didier Drogba watches during their first leg Champion's League quarter-final football match at Stamford Bridge in London, 06 April, 2005. AFP PHOTO/ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Chelsea v Bayern Munich
LONDON - APRIL 6: Bastian Schweinsteiger of Bayern Munich celebrates scoring with his team-mates during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg match between Chelsea and Bayern Munich at Stamford Bridge on April 6, 2005 in London, England. (Photo by Ben Radford/Getty Images)
Chelsea v Bayern Munich
LONDON - APRIL 06: Frank Lampard score his teams second goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg match between Chelsea and Bayern Munich at Stamford Bridge on April 6, 2005 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Chelsea v Bayern Munich
LONDON - APRIL 06: Frank Lampard celebrates scoring his teams second goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg match between Chelsea and Bayern Munich at Stamford Bridge on April 6, 2005 in London, England. (Photo by Ben Radford/Getty Images)
Bayern Munich's Brazilian defender Lucio
LONDON, United Kingdom: Bayern Munich's Brazilian defender Lucio (L-R), goalkeeper Oliver Kahn and midfielder Torsten Frings look disappointed as Chelsea fans (in the background) celebrate after their first leg Champion's League quarter-final against Chelsea in London 06 April 2005. Chelsea won the match 4-2. AFP PHOTO DDP/MARCUS BRANDT (Photo credit should read MARCUS BRANDT/AFP/Getty Images)
Chelsea v Bayern Munich
LONDON - APRIL 6: John Terry accuses Michael Ballack of diving for Bayern Munich's penalty during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg match between Chelsea and Bayern Munich at Stamford Bridge on April 6, 2005 in London, England. (Photo by Ben Radford/Getty Images)
Chelsea's goalkeeper Petr Cech misses a
LONDON, United Kingdom: Chelsea's goalkeeper Petr Cech misses a penalty kick from Bayern Munich's Michael Ballack during their first leg Champion's League quarter-final football match at Stamford Bridge in London, 06 April, 2005. Chelsea won 4-2. AFP PHOTO/CARL DE SOUZA (Photo credit should read CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images)
A Bayern Munich fan wipes his face after
LONDON, United Kingdom: A Bayern Munich fan wipes his face after their first leg Champion's League quarter-final football match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in London, 06 April, 2005. Chelsea won 4-2. AFP PHOTO/CARL DE SOUZA (Photo credit should read CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images)
FB: Champions League 04/05, FC Bayern Muenchen - FC Chelsea London
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 12: Champions League 04/05, Muenchen, 12.04.05; FC Bayern Muenchen - FC Chelsea London 3:2; Torjubel zum 1:2 durch Didier DROGBA/Chelsea (mitte) (Photo by Sandra Behne/Bongarts/Getty Images)
FB: Champions League 04/05, FC Bayern Muenchen - FC Chelsea London
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 12: Champions League 04/05, Muenchen, 12.04.05; FC Bayern Muenchen - FC Chelsea London 3:2; Torwart Oliver KAHN/Bayern (Photo by Sandra Behne/Bongarts/Getty Images)
FB: Champions League 04/05, FC Bayern Muenchen - FC Chelsea London
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 12: Champions League 04/05, Muenchen, 12.04.05; FC Bayern Muenchen - FC Chelsea London 3:2; Tor zum 3:2 durch Mehmet SCHOLL/Bayern, v.l. TIAGO, Torwart Petr CECH, John TERRY/Chelsea (Photo by Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty Images)
FB: Champions League 04/05, FC Bayern Muenchen - FC Chelsea London
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 12: Champions League 04/05, Muenchen, 12.04.05; FC Bayern Muenchen - FC Chelsea London 3:2; Jubel nach dem Tor zum 0:1 durch Frank LAMPARD, links Damien DUFF/Chelsea (Photo by Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty Images)
FB: Champions League 04/05, FC Bayern Muenchen - FC Chelsea London
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 12: Champions League 04/05, Muenchen, 12.04.05; FC Bayern Muenchen - FC Chelsea London 3:2; v.l.: Claudio PIZARRO, Roy MAKAAY und Willy SAGNOL/Bayern (Photo by Sandra Behne/Bongarts/Getty Images)
FB: Champions League 04/05, FC Bayern Muenchen - FC Chelsea London
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 12: Champions League 04/05, Muenchen, 12.04.05; FC Bayern Muenchen - FC Chelsea London; Robert HUTH/Chelsea, Michael BALLACK/Bayern (Photo by Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty Images)
FB: Champions League 04/05, FC Bayern Muenchen - FC Chelsea London
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 12: Champions League 04/05, Muenchen, 12.04.05; FC Bayern Muenchen - FC Chelsea London 3:2; Enttaeuschung bei Michael BALLACK/Bayern nach dem Spiel (Photo by Sandra Behne/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Bayern Munich's Claudio Pizarro (L) taps
MUNICH, GERMANY: Bayern Munich's Claudio Pizarro (L) taps the ball into the net as Chelsea's goalkeeper Petr Cech (R) looks on during second leg Champion's League quarter-final football match at The Olympic Stadium in Munich, 12 April, 2005. Bayern Munich won the game 3-2, but goes out of the competition losing 6-5 on aggregate. AFP PHOTO/ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Bayern Munich v Chelsea
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 12: Didier Drogba of Chelsea celebrates at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg match between Bayern Munich and Chelsea at the Olympic Stadium, on April 12, 2005 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Bayern Munich and Chelsea have a brief, but memorable history in the Champions League.
On just the two occasions the pair faced one another, 11 goals were scored. Just as synonymous with the tie as...
Bayern Munich and Chelsea have a brief, but memorable history in the Champions League.
On just the two occasions the pair faced one another, 11 goals were scored. Just as synonymous with the tie as...
Bayern Munich and Chelsea's Champions League final date on Saturday is just the third clash between the two sides, with a quarter-final duel in 2005...
Manchester United strode out into Barcelona's Camp Nou for their 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich with omens aplenty weighing on their mind. The...
Ajax's last Champions League triumph came against AC Milan 17 years ago, but more memorable than the all-but-two homegrown lineup or Patrick Kluivert's winner is...
Ahead of Bayern Munich hosting Chelsea in Saturday's Champions League final, we recall the most memorable showdowns, starting with the greatest of them all. Barcelona's...
AP
AP PHOTOS: Bayern Munich beats Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in action-packed Champions League final: http://t.co/D0mYgHFkqo
I am a Chelsea supporter. And of course I hope Chelsea win tomorrow. But I have an additional reason to hope for victory and that is because I find it is fundamentally unfair that Bayern should be allowed to play the final in their home stadium. How anyone could imagine that is OK is beyond me: but many things UEFA does are beyond me. I love football. The banter with fans from other teams is all part of the excitement but I always like to see fair play. If Drogba dives I don't like it anymore than when Rooney does. The game was built on fairness but we have a corrupt and disreputable click in UEFA which we need to get rid of so we can enjoy the beautiful game free of the corruption that does not results in a finalists team having the benefit of their home ground for the final. That is just plain wrong and any fair minded person - any fan in the UK - would not like. And I hope the anger at the unfairness will propel Chelsea to victory.
Vapula: I am a Chelsea supporter. And of course I hope
While I agree with you on the corrupt and disreputable UEFA - I don't think anyone would disagree - I disagree with the idea of anything being unfair with Bayern being allowed to play a final they have deserved to reach in a stadium that was selected some two years or so ago. What's your proposal? If you wanted to prevent such a (very rare) occurrence, your pool of possible stadiums would be pretty small, or at least you'd have to exclude many of the major European stadiums. Or an alternative stadium for that rare case? Logistical nightmare.
Besides, I don't see as huge an advantage for Bayern as is often suggested. The crowd will be mixed, and there's also something to the additional-pressure argument that it might also turn out to be quite a burden on Bayern's shoulders.
Anayway, games like these are decided through other things.
JonathanStuartLeibowitz: While I agree with you on the corrupt and disreputable
Yeah sooo....the Rugby European cup final is the same day at Twickenham...and not one word about it from HP...c'mon you could at least rip off other papers for the Rugby like you do with football!
Seaniebhoy: Yeah sooo....the Rugby European cup final is the same day
But the Rugby world cup is not between Twickenham and another team is it? The next world cup is in Brazil but that should not disqualify them, so I don't think you are quite getting the point.
Vapula: But the Rugby world cup is not between Twickenham and
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The Huffington Post UK | By Samuel Luckhurst Posted: 18/05/2012 13:33 Updated: 18/05/2012 13:33