It’s been over seven years since Chelsea defeated Bayern Munich in the Champions League final, and seven years is quite a long time in football.
The two sides will lock horns again in the Champions League round of 16, their first Champions League meeting since the famous Champions League final battle in 2012.
Having finished as group winners, Bayern will travel to Stamford Bridge first, taking on Frank Lampard’s side in the first leg on Tuesday, February 25, with the second leg taking place at the Allianz Arena on May 18. Chelsea stunned Bayern Munich in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at the Allianz Arena to win the Champions League for the first time back in 2012.
Thomas Mueller’s late header put Bayern on the brink of victory on home territory but Didier Drogba levelled things up with a bullet header at the death before coolly converting the decisive spot-kick.
From both sides, only two players are left that featured in the final. While Chelsea have none of the 2012 Champions League winning squad left, Bayern can still boast of goal scorer Thomas Muller and also goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Chelsea’s last two players from the squad David Luiz and Gary Cahill left the club during the summer.
Chelsea starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Petr Cech; Ashley Cole, David Luiz, Gary Cahill, Jose Bosingwa; Frank Lampard, John Obi Mikel; Ryan Bertrand, Juan Mata, Salomon Kalou; Didier Drogba. Substitutes: Ross Turnbull, Michael Essien, Paulo Ferreira, Oriol Romeu, Florent Malouda, Daniel Sturridge, Fernando Torres.
Bayern Munich starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Manuel Neuer; Diego Contento, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Jerome Boateng, Philipp Lahm; Toni Kroos, Bastian Schweinsteiger; Franck Ribery, Thomas Mueller, Arjen Robben; Mario Gomez. Substitutes: Hans-Jorg Butt, Daniel van Buyten, Rafinha, Takashi Usami, Danijel Pranjic, Nils Petersen, Ivica Olic.