***Official Champions League Final Thread***

[Mark (Blue Army)]

[center][/center]
[center] v
UEFA Champions League
Final
22nd May 2010
KO 19:45
Ground: Santiago Bernabeu
Live: [/center]


In some quarters this match is being billed as 'God versus Son of God', with Van Gaal having acted as a mentor for Mourinho's early career having offered him a break as his assistant at Barcelona in the late 1990s.

Bayern are themselves fighting for the Treble after finishing on top in a dramatic Bundesliga season and lifting the German cup to allow Van Gaal, a European Cup winner with Ajax in 1995, to reinforce his reputation as one of the world's best coaches.

But while the Dutchman's achievements have offered him the opportunity for a little broadside at Mourinho, "I think I educated Jose a little but he trains to win, I train to play beautiful football and win. My way is more difficult", he remains aware of the threat.

Having advanced from Group F, Inter have stunned Chelsea, seen off CSKA Moscow and shocked holders Barcelona in the knockout stages to demonstrate that they have progressed from previously perennial European underachievers to arrive at the final as favourites.

Bayern, though, have also impressed after coming through Group A to eliminate Fiorentina, Manchester United and Lyon to set up a fascinating meeting with their Italian opponents.

Neither team will be at full strength at the Bernabeu as key men will be missing the showpiece event, which will be refereed by England's Howard Webb.

Inter are without Brazilian defensive midfielder Thiago Motta after he was controversially sent off in the semi-final with Barcelona.

Julio Cesar should keep his place in goal, while Maicon, Lucio, Walter Samuel and Javier Zanetti are expected to make up the defence.

Esteban Cambiasso, Goran Pandev and Cristian Chivu are likely to form a flexible midfield trio behind Samuel Eto'o, Wesley Sneijder and Diego Milito.

Bayern are without star man Franck Ribery after he failed with his appeal against his red card in the first leg of the semi-finals against Lyon.

Hans-Jorg Butt will keep his place in goal, with Philipp Lahm, the highly-rated Holger Badstuber, Daniel van Buyten and Diego Contento starting in defence.

Hamit Altintop, Mark van Bommel, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Arjen Robben are set to operate in midfield, with Ivica Olic and Thomas Muller in attack.

Possible starting XIs

Inter Milan: Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Zanetti, Cambiasso, Pandev, Chivu, Eto'o, Sneijder, Milito.

Bayern Munich: Butt, Lahm, Badstuber, Van Buyten, Contento, Altintop, Van Bommel, Schweinsteiger, Robben, Olic, Muller.

[Original Dub]

[center][/center]
[center] v
UEFA Champions League
Final
22nd May 2010
KO 19:45
Ground: Santiago Bernabeu
Live: [/center]


In some quarters this match is being billed as 'God versus Son of God', with Van Gaal having acted as a mentor for Mourinho's early career having offered him a break as his assistant at Barcelona in the late 1990s.

Bayern are themselves fighting for the Treble after finishing on top in a dramatic Bundesliga season and lifting the German cup to allow Van Gaal, a European Cup winner with Ajax in 1995, to reinforce his reputation as one of the world's best coaches.

But while the Dutchman's achievements have offered him the opportunity for a little broadside at Mourinho, "I think I educated Jose a little but he trains to win, I train to play beautiful football and win. My way is more difficult", he remains aware of the threat.

Having advanced from Group F, Inter have stunned Chelsea, seen off CSKA Moscow and shocked holders Barcelona in the knockout stages to demonstrate that they have progressed from previously perennial European underachievers to arrive at the final as favourites.

Bayern, though, have also impressed after coming through Group A to eliminate Fiorentina, Manchester U***d and Lyon to set up a fascinating meeting with their Italian opponents.

Neither team will be at full strength at the Bernabeu as key men will be missing the showpiece event, which will be refereed by England's Howard Webb.

Inter are without Brazilian defensive midfielder Thiago Motta after he was controversially sent off in the semi-final with Barcelona.

Julio Cesar should keep his place in goal, while Maicon, Lucio, Walter Samuel and Javier Zanetti are expected to make up the defence.

Esteban Cambiasso, Goran Pandev and Cristian Chivu are likely to form a flexible midfield trio behind Samuel Eto'o, Wesley Sneijder and Diego Milito.

Bayern are without star man Franck Ribery after he failed with his appeal against his red card in the first leg of the semi-finals against Lyon.

Hans-Jorg Butt will keep his place in goal, with Philipp Lahm, the highly-rated Holger Badstuber, Daniel van Buyten and Diego Contento starting in defence.

Hamit Altintop, Mark van Bommel, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Arjen Robben are set to operate in midfield, with Ivica Olic and Thomas Muller in attack.

Possible starting XIs

Inter Milan: Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Zanetti, Cambiasso, Pandev, Chivu, Eto'o, Sneijder, Milito.

Bayern Munich: Butt, Lahm, Badstuber, Van Buyten, Contento, Altintop, Van Bommel, Schweinsteiger, Robben, Olic, Muller.

Now that is what its all about.

Come on Bayern!

[Vhero]

Inter got this in the bag how the hell Bayern got to the final is beyond me its like when the scouse did it.. Just shows the best teams fuck up under extreme pressure.

[brite blu sky]

i hope inter fuck up.. an early og would do nicely and then to watch Bayern park the bus, airplane and train and teach Inter a lesson in non-football

c'mon Inter put it in yer own net

1-0 to Bayern

[fangsanalsatan]

Inter got this in the bag how the hell Bayern got to the final is beyond me its like when the scouse did it.. Just shows the best teams fuck up under extreme pressure.

Well, Bayern have been in tremendous form in the second half of the season and they reached the final on merit playing very dominant and enjoyable football, ask TomS (if he's willing to admit). And if the 'best teams' buckle under pressure, they're not the best teams, aren't they.

[ashton287]

22,000+ corporate seats for this, fucking joke that. There will be as many suits there as actual fans of either team.

[Slim]

After the ups and downs of the playoff final, let's hope this one gives us a good game. For aussies burning the midnight(3am) oil, at least it's on SBS so we don't have to suffer Tommy fucking Smyth's 90 minute shitstain drivel on ESPN.

[Dameerto]

After the ups and downs of the playoff final, let's hope this one gives us a good game. For aussies burning the midnight(3am) oil, at least it's on SBS so we don't have to suffer Tommy fucking Smyth's 90 minute shitstain drivel on ESPN.

We've got the accented punditry of Didi Hamann on ITV in the UK, we're spoiled today.

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

1-0 Inter. Paint dry type of game.

[bluej]

Mourinho really does embody self confidence.

[Dameerto]

Nice goal from Silvester Stallone

[bluej]

Great finish that.

[bluej]

Pretty good first half, Inter should have had a second. Bayern have had all the ball but not really created a clear cut chance. Game is set up for Inter now.

[brite blu sky]

typical anti-football from Inter and Mourinho

[bluej]

typical anti-football from Inter and Mourinho

I don't think they've been that negative, yes they've sat back when Bayern have the ball (which is exactly what we do) but when they've had the ball they've been much more attractive than Bayern IMO.

[dikdik]

Agree. I've been quite impressed with their forward play.

[Kladze]

typical anti-football from Inter and Mourinho

Yes.

Bayern have been toying with Inter in much the same way as a mouse might toy with a mousetrap.

[Dameerto]

Nice lively start to the second half from both teams

[edge275]

Van Buyten - From fighting relegation with city to playing a Champions League final.

[Dameerto]

Sly Stallone gets his second