Bayern Munich 1-1* Chelsea (2011-12 UEFA Champions League Final)

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2012 UEFA Champions League Final

0Scoreline	*Bayern Munich 1-1 Chelsea** *Chelsea won 4-3 on penalties
0Date	19 May 2012
0Competition	UEFA Champions League
0Referee	Pedro Proença (Portugal)
0Stadium	Allianz Arena, Munich
0Attendance	69,901

The 2012 UEFA Champions League Final took place on 19 May 2012 between German side Bayern Munich and Chelsea. The match took place at the Allianz Arena – Bayern Munich's home stadium. The stadium was the pre-selected neutral venue, and was officially named the "Fußball Arena München" for the purposes of the final, due to UEFA sponsorship rules.

It was the fourth time Chelsea had reached a European final, and the second time they had played in the final of the UEFA Champions League, having also reached the final in 2008. Chelsea's opponents were appearing in their ninth final, having won Europe's premier club competition on four previous occasions. The match resulted in Chelsea's maiden win in the competition; the Blues won a penalty shootout after the match finished 1-1 following extra time.

Match review

Suspensions

Both sides were missing key players for the final due to suspension. Bayern were missing David Alaba, Holger Badstuber and Luiz Gustavo. Chelsea were without Branislav Ivanović, Raul Meireles and Ramires, who received bookings in the semi-final, while John Terry had been sent-off in Camp Nou and would also miss the game. With two centre back options missing, Chelsea were hoping that David Luiz and Gary Cahill would recover from hamstring injuries, though neither would have played for over a month. Both players made the starting line-up.

The venue for the Final

Regulation time

Playing in their home stadium, and with the majority of fans within the Arena wearing red, Bayern Munich started the match strongly, an early booking for handball for Bastian Schweinsteiger the only minor setback as the Bavarians started their "home final" in the manner of a home side. The pattern of Bayern pressure and stout Chelsea defending characterised regulation time, with the German side dominating in terms of chances created, although a combination of poor finishing and sheer resilience from the Chelsea defence, including goalkeeper Petr Čech, keeping the game scoreless.

Following another spell of concerted pressure Bayern finally broke through in the 83rd minute; Thomas Müller heading into the ground and into the roof of Chelsea's net from close range, with Čech appearing to be caught out by the steepness of the bounce. The Bavarian fans and players will have felt as if the crucial breakthrough had been made, but after substitute Fernando Torres won Chelsea's first corner of the game in the 88th minute Didier Drogba powered a header into Bayern's net from Juan Mata's delivery. Both sides then pressed for a winner, but after Drogba struck a free kick in a threatening position high over the crossbar the match went into extra time.

Extra time

Didier Drogba scores the winning penalty

Shortly after the re-start Bayern Munich were gifted an opportunity to regain the lead; Drogba unnecessarily tackled Franck Ribéry from behind in the Chelsea area, resulting in a penalty being awarded. The tackle resulted in an injury to the Frenchman, and he would eventually be substituted, but the need for on-pitch treatment also delayed the taking of the spot kick. The penalty was taken by former Chelsea winger Arjen Robben, who had converted from the spot in the semi final 2nd leg against Real Madrid, but had missed the previous weekend in the German Cup Final, as Bayern lost 5-2 to Borussia Dortmund. The Dutchman's kick was unconvincing and was saved by Čech, the Czech international preventing the ball from squeezing under his body and grasping it at the second attempt. Perhaps galvanised by Robben's miss Chelsea's play improved in extra time, although Bayern continued to create chances, including a glaring miss by Ivica Olić in the 108th minute. Both sides seemed to be resigned to penalties as the second half of extra time drew to a close, and as with Chelsea's first appearance in the final the match would be decided with a penalty shoot-out.

Penalty shoot-out

Bayern Munich won both tosses of the coin for the shoot-out, choosing to shoot first in front of their fans. Bayern captain Philipp Lahm scored the first penalty, although Čech managed to get a hand to the ball. Juan Mata then stepped up for Chelsea, and saw his penalty saved by Manuel Neuer. Mario Gómez then converted, followed by a superb David Luiz penalty into the top corner. Bayern keeper Neuer then put the Bavarians 3-1 up, as the German side appeared to be heading towards victory, but Frank Lampard sent his penalty high into the roof of the net to keep the pressure on. Still holding the advantage, Bayern would win if they converted their remaining two penalties, but Croatian international Ivica Olić's attempt was clawed away superbly by Čech, and Ashley Cole evened up the shoot-out with an excellent low strike into the corner. The pressure then fell on Bastian Schweinsteiger, who checked his run-up hesitantly before seeing his effort strike the inside of the post and bounce out, with Čech appearing to have got a touch on the ball. His miss handed Didier Drogba the chance to win the trophy for Chelsea, and the Ivorian confidently stroked the ball into the bottom corner as Neuer dived the wrong way, sealing a maiden Champions League victory for the Blues.

Match details

19 May 2012 19.45 BST	Bayern Munich	1–1*	Chelsea	Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich Attendance: 69,901 Referee: Pedro Proença
	Müller 83'	aet	Drogba 88'

		Penalties
	Lahm Gómez Neuer Olić Schweinsteiger	3–4	Mata David Luiz Lampard Cole Drogba


BAYERN MUNICH:
GK	1	Manuel Neuer
RB	21	Philipp Lahm (c)
CB	17	Jérôme Boateng
CB	44	Anatoliy Tymoshchuk
LB	26	Diego Contento
DM	31	Bastian Schweinsteiger	2'
DM	39	Toni Kroos
RW	10	Arjen Robben
LW	7	Franck Ribéry		97'
AM	25	Thomas Müller		87'
CF	33	Mario Gómez
Substitutes:
GK	22	Hans-Jörg Butt
DF	5	Daniel Van Buyten		87'
DF	13	Rafinha
MF	14	Takashi Usami
MF	23	Danijel Pranjić
FW	9	Nils Petersen
FW	11	Ivica Olić		97'
Manager:
Jupp Heynckes


CHELSEA:
GK	1	Petr Čech
RB	17	José Bosingwa
CB	4	David Luiz	86'
CB	24	Gary Cahill
LB	3	Ashley Cole	81'
DM	12	John Mikel Obi
CM	8	Frank Lampard (c)
RW	21	Salomon Kalou		84'
AM	10	Juan Mata
LW	34	Ryan Bertrand		73'
CF	11	Didier Drogba	93'
Substitutes:
GK	22	Ross Turnbull
DF	19	Paulo Ferreira
MF	5	Michael Essien
MF	6	Oriol Romeu
MF	15	Florent Malouda		73'
FW	23	Daniel Sturridge
FW	9	Fernando Torres	120'	84'
Manager:
Roberto Di Matteo

Road to the Final

See also: 2011-12 UEFA Champions League

Season	Day	D	M	Year	Round	Opposition	Venue	Result	Score	Notes
2011-12	Tue	13	Sep	2011	Group E	Bayer Leverkusen	Home	Won	2-0
2011-12	Wed	28	Sep	2011	Group E	Valencia	Away	Drew	1-1
2011-12	Wed	19	Oct	2011	Group E	Genk	Home	Won	5-0
2011-12	Tue	1	Nov	2011	Group E	Genk	Away	Drew	1-1
2011-12	Wed	23	Nov	2011	Group E	Bayer Leverkusen	Away	Lost	1-2
2011-12	Tue	6	Dec	2011	Group E	Valencia	Home	Won	3-0
2011-12	Tue	21	Feb	2012	1st Knock Out Round 1st Leg	Napoli	Away	Lost	1-3
2011-12	Wed	14	Mar	2012	1st Knock Out Round 2nd Leg	Napoli	Home	Won	4-1*	*aet (5-4 aggregate)
2011-12	Tue	27	Mar	2012	Quarter Final 1st Leg	Benfica	Away	Won	1-0
2011-12	Wed	4	Apr	2012	Quarter Final 2nd Leg	Benfica	Home	Won	2-1	(3-1 aggregate)
2011-12	Wed	18	Apr	2012	Semi Final 1st Leg	Barcelona	Home	Won	1-0
2011-12	Tue	24	Apr	2012	Semi Final 2nd Leg	Barcelona	Away	Drew	2-2	(3-2 aggregate)

Match reports

Images

Match programme	Allianz Arena	Pride of London	Drogba celebrates his equaliser
Cech saves from Robben	Winning penalty	Dejected Bayern players	Team celebrations
Didier Drogba	Petr Čech	Drogba hails fans	Drogba & Ruud Gullit