Mark ( Blue Army ) wrote:[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.
Vhero wrote: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.
Slim wrote: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.
brite blu sky wrote:typical anti-football from Inter and Mourinho
brite blu sky wrote:typical anti-football from Inter and Mourinho
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