Bayern Munich v Chelsea: Champions League last 16, second leg – live!
08-Aug-2020 17:56:55 | The Guardian
Pre-match business
Related: Frank Lampard says he will not hold grudge if Willian joins Arsenal
For Chelsea, this is the final game of a promising first season under Frank Lampard. They had a brilliant run to the FA Cup final, beating Liverpool, Leicester and Manchester United, and qualified for the Champions League. Christian Pulisic was a revelation and Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech are eye-catching signings.
But the plan to invest in young English players didn’t really pay off, with the exception of Mason Mount and to a lesser extent Reece James, and the defence needs a lot of work. I’d give Frank a B on his school report. I’m sure he could really give one.
Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1) Neuer; Kimmich, Boateng, Alaba, Davies; Goretzka, Thiago; Gnabry, Muller, Perisic; Lewandowski.
Substitutes: Ulreich, Hoffmann, Odriozola, Sule, Javi Martinez, Coutinho, Cuisance, Hernandez, Tolisso, Tillman, Musiala, Arrey-Mbi.
Chelsea (4-3-3) Caballero; James, Christensen, Zouma, Emerson; Barkley, Kante, Kovacic; Hudson-Odoi, Abraham, Mount.
Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Cumming, Rudiger, Giroud, Batshuayi, Tomori, Broja, Lawrence, Maatsen, Bate, Simeu.
Hello. It’s Saturday night at the Allianz Arena, and Chelsea are in town. The last time that happened was on 19 May 2012, the greatest night in Chelsea’s history. Eight years later they need the greatest comeback in anyone’s history. Let’s be clear: while there have been bigger comebacks in European football, there is no precedent for a team of Bayern’s ability and experience blowing a 3-0 lead from the away leg.
The closest is probably Barcelona’s hilarious collapse against Metz in 1984-85, but this Bayern team are on a different level. Chelsea have two chances of making the quarter-finals, and slim is self-isolating.
Continue reading...Read More