OT: Champions League final discussion & live thread

Submitted by go16blue on

The Champions League final has finally arrived, after months of build up. It features a pair of unlikely semifinal winners, as Chelsea and Bayern Munich upset Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively. The game will be played in Allianz Arena (home to Bayern Munich), which most say will benefit Bayern. Both teams come in with multiple players suspended for yellow cards in the semi-finals, with Chelsea hit slightly harder. Bayern plays a very meticulous, attacking style, focusing on good passing and good wings capable of shooting as well as crossing. Chelsea plays more of a deep, counter-attacking style, featuring star playmaker Didier Drogba at striker. Bayern is normally amazing at home, but in a game of this magnitude with this much emotion, all of that goes out the window. 

The winner gets a trophy, bragging rights, and a large cash reward. Beyond that, the implications in the English Premier League are huge, as if Chelsea win they will take a 2012-13 Champions League spot from my beloved Spurs.

And before you soccer haters show up and ask "who cares," last year over 300 million people watched the final, much more than the super bowl. So please, if you don't like soccer, keep it civil.

The game starts at 2:30 on Fox

Come On You Bavarians!! Can't wait!

BJ0017

May 19th, 2012 at 9:49 AM ^

Longtime Chelsea fan here. It's going to be tough playing without JT and Ivanovic but luckily we do get Cahill and Luiz back from injury. 2-1 Chelsea

go16blue

May 19th, 2012 at 9:50 AM ^

Also, at 10:00 on Fox Soccer, Blackpool takes on West Ham in the Championship play-off final. The winner gets a spot in the English Premier League next year, and the 90 million (!!) pounds that go with that. The loser stays in the Championship (the second tier league), and has to put up with at least one more year of financial woes. Steam at firstrowsports.eu

go16blue

May 19th, 2012 at 9:54 AM ^

The stakes are absolutely massive for Tottenham, even though we aren't playing. Win and we get a spot in the CL next year, along with a cash prize, and the ability to lure in top players over the offseason. Lose and not only do we have to put up with the Europa League, but we would likely lose 3 or 4 of our best 5 players, and would be unable to pull and good players over the offseason. This is without a doubt one of the most important games in recent memory for Tottenham.

Bombadil

May 19th, 2012 at 10:17 AM ^

To second go16blue, this is definitely bigger than the superbowl now. There's so much money Champion's league it's crazy. 

I'm pulling for Bayern.

Volverine

May 19th, 2012 at 10:30 AM ^

There's only one team in London. If the Gunners can't win it, I don't want any English teams to. Pulling for the German giants in this one.

bacon1431

May 19th, 2012 at 10:50 AM ^

As for the CL Final, I'm rooting more against Chelsea than I am for Bayern. Just because I know a ton of bandwagon Chelsea fans and I don't want them to have any reason to celebrate.

bacon1431

May 19th, 2012 at 11:53 AM ^

West Ham will be back in the top flight next year. As a Wolves fan, I think this is the better outcome as I think they were the better club. Slightly easier rode back to promotion for my Wolves.

BossWolverine

May 19th, 2012 at 11:58 AM ^

Bayern on this one. Although I love watching Lampard and Torres, there is no love lost on Abromovich, Terry, and Drogba. Besides, if Chelsea wins they might shun the "always a bridesmaid never a bride" stigma and we can't have that. With all the financial resources available, I can't decide if Real Madrid or Chelsea are the biggest underachievers.

gopoohgo

May 19th, 2012 at 12:00 PM ^

Would rather not see another billionaire-owned EPL team win a major trophy.

As a ManUnited fan, I really am envious.

I think missing Terry in the middle dooms Chelski, especially playing Bayern @ Allianz. 2-0 Munchen, Gomez with one goal

gopoohgo

May 19th, 2012 at 12:00 PM ^

Would rather not see another billionaire-owned EPL team win a major trophy.

As a ManUnited fan, I really am envious.

I think missing Terry in the middle dooms Chelski, especially playing Bayern @ Allianz. 2-0 Munchen, Gomez with one goal

gopoohgo

May 19th, 2012 at 12:28 PM ^

Of course Terry is an ass.

Howeva, he may have had his best match of the season against Barca at home in the 1st leg of the semi. He served as an effective anchor quarterbacking the defense.

Not sure anyone is going to be able to defend Gomez on crosses coming in from the wings with Terry out

E.L. blue fan

May 19th, 2012 at 12:21 PM ^

I'm pulling for Bayern in this one.

Also tonight on ESPN2 at 10:30 the Galaxy play Chivas USA, it will be interesting to see if Juan Agudelo sees the field tonight after being traded from NY. You wouldn't expect a guy to play after just a couple practices with the team but Chivas is desperate for some offense so it is a possibility. 

Michiganguy19

May 19th, 2012 at 12:23 PM ^

Really looking forward to them drubbing Chelsea. I don't usually support German clubs with such gusto, but I really don't find much to like about this Chelsea team.

Wolverine In Iowa

May 19th, 2012 at 12:31 PM ^

I'm pulling for Bayern because I don't want Spurs, who I think deserve a place in the Champions League, to be knocked out.  Chelsea were absolute crap this year in the EPL, but they are playing to be European champion -- go figure.

Bad news is I knocked the satellite dish while mowing the lawn, and I can't get the thing lined back up :(

cheesheadwolverine

May 19th, 2012 at 2:39 PM ^

Also it's not like the Bundesliga is number two.

Also worth noting that performance in Europe and the UEFA statistics pulled off of that probably understantes the level of the EPL, since the strenght of the league is its quality top-to-bottom (cf. Spain with the two best teams in the world, then a huge drop, then the Valencia/Atletico/Sevilla level, then some real crap-ass-Championship-level teams in the bottom half of the league)

SKIP TO MY BLUE

May 19th, 2012 at 2:06 PM ^

Even though I do not root for either Cherlsea or Munich, I would rather see Spurs go on to the CL after finishing fourth in the EPL than Chelsea for their great run in the CL. Doesn't seem fair for Rednapp and the boys to go to Europa after a great season. Just hoping for a well played match.

ehatch

May 19th, 2012 at 2:12 PM ^

Does anyone else think Wynalda looks like Rich Rod? Confuses me for a second every week.

Go Chelsea. I think it will be relatively high scoring, like 3-2 Bayern.

ixcuincle

May 19th, 2012 at 2:19 PM ^

Forgot Terry wasn't playing today. Go Bayern

And stupid FOX keeps playing their football music for all sports (including baseball and soccer). That music is associated with football. Make some other music for baseball and soccer. 

snarling wolverine

May 19th, 2012 at 2:21 PM ^

And before you soccer haters show up and ask "who cares," last year over 300 million people watched the final, much more than the super bowl.

I'm not a soccer hater by any means, but doesn't the Super Bowl get like a billion viewers? (I also thought the CL final got a lot more than 300M.)

blue95

May 19th, 2012 at 2:53 PM ^

Some German friends got me interested in soccer so I've always been a follower of the Bundesliga and root for the national team (when the U.S. isn't involved).

But Bayern is the NY Yankees of the league, so it's kinda hard to cheer for them.  I'm a Schalke fan. 

The one thing I know for sure, Ribery is one ugly SOB!

bacon1431

May 19th, 2012 at 4:45 PM ^

It's like rooting for the Yankees no matter who you cheer for in this match. But I think Bayern is the lesser of two evils. And I don't want Tottenham to be robbed of a well-deserved CL spot by Chelsea who has underachieved all season up until the knock-out stage.

blue95

May 19th, 2012 at 5:01 PM ^

You know, after that whole war thing a lot of people still hold a grudge.  I know the Czechs do.

My brother lives in Berlin, everyone was pretty excited to root against Bayern in the Bundesliga championship match the other week.  I haven't heard from him about the concensus on today's match.