I thought there was a chance Torres would start but the lineup is what many of us expected to see today, with one spot up for grabs.

Ryan has been solid this season but must have done something in training to convince Robbie that he was the right choice to take Ramires's place.

Very bold call and huge moment for him, hope he has a good game. Also bold picking Luiz and Cahill given they are not 100%, you might say he had no choice but if they suffer a relapse you lose 1 or 2 sub options so again bold.

Well, what's Bayern's starting lineup?

"Twenty-two-year-old Ryan Bertrand will makes his Champions League debut, playing in front of Ashley Cole in a position on the left of midfield.

David Luiz and Gary Cahill both start so Jose Bosingwa is at right-back.

Didier Drogba leads the attack with Juan Mata behind and Salomon Kalou on the right.

Bayern Munich bring Diego Contento in at left-back and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, more usual a midfielder, into central defence.

Thomas Muller is the one change to the midfield that contested the semi-final against Real Madrid.

Chelsea will line-up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:

1 Petr Cech

17 Jose Bosingwa

24 Gary Cahill

4 David Luiz

3 Ashley Cole

12 John Mikel Obi

8 Frank Lampard ©

21 Salomon Kalou

10 Juan Mata

34 Ryan Bertrand

11 Didier Drogba

Subs: 22 Ross Turnbull, 19 Paulo Ferreira, 5 Michael Essien, 6 Oriol Romeu, 15 Florent Malouda, 23 Daniel Sturridge, 9 Fernando Torres.

Bayern Munich are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:

Neuer; Lahm ©, Boateng, Tymoshchuk, Contento; Schweinsteiger, Kroos; Robben, T Muller, Ribéry; Gomez.

Subs: Butt, Van Buyten, Rafinha, Usami, Pranjic, Olic, Petersen.

The referee is Pedro Proença from Portugal.

Source: http://www.chelseafc...2777554,00.html"

Edited May 19, 201214 yr by axman2526

Right I'm off to the boozer!

I'm so excited, come on Chels!!

OK ready to go.

I'm guessing Lahm is playing RB, up against Ryan?

Going to be quite hard for him.

My main wish for tonight is we put in a performance. No 'if only we had done this or that' , anything else then is a bonus. WE are in a final of the premier competition in the world, we should rightly be proud of our boys win or lose. This morning I was watching big match revisited from 1983, our win that day against Bolton away meant relegation to the 3rd division was still possible but unlikely. How far we have come on from those days. Come on lads a good 90 mins and we can have turned the full circle from what were grim days.

Lahm/Bertrand is going to be very interesting. I really think if Lahm plays his normal game by bombing forward Bertrand can take advantage outpacing him in a counter. No doubt we have the better bench and if we fall behind which will be the worst situation it will be Torres time to shine again, he will be up for it considering he will want to make the Spain squad as well as actually pick up a medal. He'll be happy to get on that field.

Edited May 19, 201214 yr by Bez

LETS GET INTO THEM!!!!

I moved to Canada 3 months ago and i noticed that every time i saw a bold eagle something really good would happen to me on the day..... Well today i went for a long drive and i saw the biggest bold eagle yet circling above us...... Its either gonna bring us luck or maybe im dying and it was waiting to pick my yes out.....

Hope we smash em today!!

Let's hope we don't get wiped out like Ulster have been now.

watching the match with the sound off cause i cannot stand announcers flip floping all game

I moved to Canada 3 months ago and i noticed that every time i saw a bold eagle something really good would happen to me on the day..... Well today i went for a long drive and i saw the biggest bold eagle yet circling above us...... Its either gonna bring us luck or maybe im dying and it was waiting to pick my yes out.....

Hope we smash em today!!

You mean "bald" eagle?

Chelsea just made a Facebook post with our lineup, and reading through the comments makes you hate some of our "fans". My favorites included people who can't believe we are starting Mikel over Essien.

55 MINUTES AND COUNTING.

Playing against a German team or an Italian team is tailor made for Mikel, so I think it is correct to start him over Essien.

The passion against Napoli at home, the dedication against Barca away, the luck against Wigan at home...........

Come on Chels, I love you.

just a question on a couple of posts re the watering of the pitch....as this is not a 'home game' for Munich in the German league or cup who determines how much water is put on the pitch...UEFA? or is it up to the groundkeeper?

C'MON CHELSEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The passion against Napoli at home, the dedication against Barca away, the luck against Wigan at home...........

Come on Chels, I love you.

THIS

It has to be UEFA. It better be UEFA.

Opta Sports on Twitter: "Ryan Bertrand is the first player to make his Champions League debut in the final (CL era)

Edited May 19, 201214 yr by Zeta Orionis

Is time standing still? Or is it just me?

ZIGGA ZAGGA!!!!

The music starts and so does the heartbeat racing.