After the incredible scenes at the Camp Nou yesterday, I hope you’re all ready to go through it again as two titans of European football, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, clash at 4.45am AEST to decide who progress to the Allianz Arena to meet Chelsea.
The majority of pundits were predicting a Clasico in the final, but with Barca having fallen by the wayside to a fantastic rear-guard Chelsea performance, Bayern will head in to the second leg at the Bernabeu, not only with a one goal lead but also the belief that these Spanish titans can indeed be stopped on their own soil.
Goal machine Mario Gomez will again be key, as it’s likely that Die Roten will need an away goal in order to overcome Cristiano Ronaldo and company.
The German-Brazilian grabbed the 90th minute winner and Messi aside, leads all scorers in the Champions League this season.
Some (including myself) would argue that Bayern’s first leg dominance was not really reflected on the scoreboard, and had they not gained that injury time winner, would’ve taken that 1-1 draw as a loss.
It will no doubt be a much more intimidating affair for Bayern on Spanish soil and we can guarantee that Real will not be nearly as placid as they were in the first leg.
Buoyed by all but clinching the Spanish title with a 2-1 win over Barcelona on the weekend, Real will go into this game knowing that they’re just two games away from achieving a very impressive double – and if anybody knows how to beat Chelsea, it’s Jose Mourinho.
So join us just before 4.45am AEST for all the line-ups, team news and formations and give us your thoughts and predictions in the space below.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Both the Spanish teams, out at the semi-finals, when I daresay people were bookmarking an El Classico final, very surprising.
Futbanous
Guest
Two very absorbing semi-finals. How can anyone predict the outcome of the unpredictable when it comes down to a penalty shoot-out? Bayern should have the advantage for the final,then again maybe this "backs to the wall team " missing a few regulars due to cards may have the backbone to pull it off. Although I find it weird to apply terms like backs to the wall & backbone to Chelsea its how they played yesterday. Definitely won't miss this one.
Red
Guest
Amazing! Before the semi-finals, it was expected that both Barcelona and Real MAdrid would get through. Go Bayern!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Wow. Wow. Wow. Bayern will head home and host Chelsea in the Champions League final. Ronaldo and Kaka took the exact same penalty and were matched by two brilliant saves from Neuer. It looked all but over until Casillas dived first to his left, then his right to deny Kroos and Lahm respectively. Ramos could've tied it up but he did his best David Beckham impersonation, sending it miles too high before my personal favourite FIFA 12 player, Bastian Schweinsteiger, beat Casillas for the third time and sent Bayern through to the final. What a game...what a shootout. Absolutely fantastic and miraculously, there will be no Spanish teams in the final! Thanks for joining me in what was a fantastic game. Feel free to drop me a tweet @TheMattBungard - thanks for tuning in.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
FULL TIME BAYERN WIN 3-1 ON PENALTIES
Stevo
Guest
CR7 to miss and Bayern to go thru!!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Me too. It was nailed on.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Schweinsteiger can win it here... AND BAYERN ARE GOING TO THE FINAL!!!!!!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Sergio Ramos can level it up... AND HE'S PUT IT INTO ORBIT!!!! BAYERN HAVE MATCH POINT!!!
Stevo
Guest
tooooooooooooooo much pressure!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
The captain. Philipp Lahm... SAVED BY CASILLAS!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Xabi Alonso. They need a goal... AND HE DINKS IT DOWN THE MIDDLE!!! PRESSURE ON NOW FOR BAYERN!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Toni Kroos is up... CASILLAS SAVES TO HIS LEFT!!! IS THERE SOME HOPE FOR MADRID?
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Kaka steps up... NEUER SAVES AGAIN!!!! IT'S ALL BUT OVER FOR MADRID!!!
Stevo
Guest
I believed!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Gomez goes next... PUTS IT AWAY!!!
Stevo
Guest
What did I predict!!!
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Who else but Ronaldo to go first? AND HE'S MISSED!!! WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT??
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Alaba steps up... AND SCORES!! Casillas went the wrong way and that's how you start off a shootout! He won't play in the final but the youngster has played his heart out tonight.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
So, it's come down to this. Bayern will go first.