About three weeks ago, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich engaged in battles of very different character, to ultimately emerge victorious and land the same reward. The reward was a chance to feature in a Champions League final at the Santiago Bernabeu, a showpiece event being played out at a showpiece venue.
While Bayern Munich had a stroll in the park as their Croatian striker Ivica Olic’ slotted home a hat trick against Lyon at the Stade Gerland, Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan had a street fight on their hands at Nou Camp, home to an imposing Barcelona side. Bayern had carried a 1-0 advantage into the second leg while Inter had taken a 2-1 lead to the Nou Camp, but while Olic’s hat trick simplified things for Bayern, it wasn’t going to be easy for Inter.
Battling Barcelona’s dominance of possession, things became tougher for Inter when Thiago Motta was sent off, and it was only courtesy a strong defensive wall and Mourinho’s tactical brilliance that Inter managed to shut out the Catalans.
It is because of this contrast that the finale promises to be even more interesting. While Bayern Munich has relied on individual brilliance (mostly from Arjen Robben) to bail them out from tough situations, Inter Milan have played as a team on most occasions, varying their game to meet the demands of the situation. In thwarting a Barcelona side with only 10 men, the Nerazzuri have actually gone beyond their limits and Louis van Gaal would need to extremely vary of facing this side.
There is no doubt that Mourinho would target Ivica Olic’ and Arjen Robben, the pair responsible for most of Bayern’s wins, and it is therefore that Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mark van Bommel’s role would be crucial. The Bayern defence would need to be extremely alert too, as a early 1-0 lead for Inter might lead them in shutting shop, making it increasingly difficult for the Germans to breakthrough.
With Goran Pandev back to fitness, Mourinho should expectedly lay out his preferred 4-2-3-1 with Sneijder playing the role of the playmaker behind Diego Milito, with Samuel Eto’o and Pandev cutting in from the wings. The midfield pair of Dejan Stankovic and Esteban Cambiasso would be the engine of the team sitting in front of a solid defence, feeding the forward line.
Road to the Finals:
Inter Milan:
Group Stage: After starting with three consecutive draws, Inter Milan finally managed wins over Dynamo Kiev and FK Rubin Kazan to scrape through to the ‘Round of 16′.
Knockouts: They met Chelsea in the ‘Round of 16′, Cambiasso’s winner giving them a 2-1 lead going into the second leg. Eto’o scored a 78th minute winner at Stamford Bridge before Drogba was sent off, completing a 3-1 rout. 1-0 wins both home and away at CSKA Moscow earned a semi-final berth against Barcelona, before the Catalans were hunted down by a more determined side.
Bayern Munich:
Group Stage: Bayern Munich also had a patchy start, losing both their home and away fixtures against Bordeaux in the Group stages. They beat Juventus 4-1 on the final match day though, to put things beyond doubt and ensure qualification.
Knockouts: Bayern were drawn against Fiorentina in the ‘Round of 16′ and a 2-1 lead going into the second stage looked good enough for them. Stevan Jovetic’s 54th minute goal though, put Fiorentina 2-0 ahead in the second leg and on course for an upset win before Marc Van Bommel and then a screamer from Arjen Robben saved the day for Bayern.
Against Manchester United too, Bayern took a 2-1 lead playing at home in the first leg. 7 minutes into the second leg at Old Trafford, Manchester United had taken a 2-0 lead and when Alex Ferguson’s side went into the break ahead 3-0 on the day, Bayern were on the brink of elimination. Miraculously, it was yet another dream strike from Robben that helped Bayern qualify on away goals. In the semis though, Bayern took a 3-1 lead into the second leg and defended it till the last drop of their blood, to earn a well deserved passage to the finals.
Team News:
Inter Milan: Having completed a League and Cup double just a few days ago, Inter Milan do not have any major injury concerns. Wesley Sneijder, who hobbled out of the Cup Final about two weeks ago, was fit and raring to go in the final league game and should be back for the final against Bayern. Thiago Motta would miss the game courtesy his red card in the semi-finals, making him the only notable dropout from the team.
Bayern Munich: Bayern too are chasing a record treble, but will need to do without the service of Franck Ribery whose red card and subsequent three match ban was upheld by CAS. His absence did not hurt Bayern in the second leg against Lyon though against a much more dangerous Inter Milan, the loss of their most talented player might make the difference.
Likely XI’s
Inter Milan: Cesar’ (GK), Samuel, Lucio, Zanetti (C), Maicon, Stankovic, Cambiasso, Milito, Sneijder, Pandev, Eto’o.
Bayern Munich: Jorg Butt (GK), Badstuder, van Buyten, Demichelis, Lahm, Van Bommel (C), Schweinsteiger, Altintop, Robben, Olic, Muller.
Prediction: It’s been touted as a battle between the master and the pupil, as Jose Mourinho takes on the man who was crucial in shaping his career, Louis van Gaal. On the field though, the pupil has a side which looks more resolute in defence, has more teeth in attack and is generally far more determined as compared to Bayern Munich. If they can keep the Robben’s and the Schweinsteiger’s at bay, Mourinho’s men may well bring their coach his second UEFA Champions League title.
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