For the first time in a long time, the Champions League Final features no English teams. Instead, Germany's champions Bayern Munich will square off with Italy's best Inter Milan. There are World Cup stars all over the field and it should be a great game in Madrid's Santiago Bernebeau. Both teams are looking for a historic league, cup, and European treble so there is a lot to play for in this game. So let's take a look at the matchups and see who has the edge!Bayern Strikers v Inter Defense
-The Bayern strikeforce of Ivica Olic and Thomas Muller have relegated the more fancied Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose to mostly bench duty in the latter parts of the season. Olic has shined in the CL scoring 7 goals in 7 games including a remarkable hat trick in Lyon scoring all of Bayern's goals to get them to the final. However, I can't see them breaking through such a strong Inter defense. With Javier Zanetti, Walter Samuel, Lucio, and Maicon across the back, Inter might have the best defense in the world with the 2 Brazilians and 2 Argentines. While Zanetti has been such a great leader for Inter, Lucio (against his former team) will make the difference with his strength in the middle and be very hard to get past. Julio Cesar in goal can also step up in big spots for Inter.
EDGE: Inter
Bayern Midfield v Inter Midfield
-Both clubs will be missing key players in the midfield. Bayern will be without French dynamo Franck Ribery and Inter will be missing their CDM Thiago Motta. Motta isn't a scoring threat like Ribery, but helps to control the game in the midfield. The key to this battle will be each team's Dutch stars: Inter's Wesley Sneijder and Bayern's Arjen Robben. The other players in the midfield: Chivu, Cambiasso, and Pandev for Inter and Van Bommel, Schweinsteiger, and Altintop for Bayern cancel each other out. Robben was one of the Bundesliga's best players while Sneijder was a key man in Inter dispatching Chelsea and Barcelona. Robben has been in such scintillating form with his goals and assists that he gives the Bayern midfield the slight edge, even without Ribery.
EDGE: Bayern
Inter Strikers v Bayern Defense
-Inter newcomer Diego Milito was Serie A's leading scorer, and Cameroon' Samuel Eto'o is as dangerous as ever. These two strikers supported by Wes Sneijder form a powerful offensive attack. Bayern's defense doesn't feature many big names and is a mix of youth and experience with Philip Lahm and Daniel Van Buyten pairing with Holger Badstuber and Diego Contento. There seem to be some holes in this defense that Inter can exploit, especially with the improving but inexperienced Hans-Jorg Butt in goal. Bayern will need their captain, CDM Mark Van Bommel to help out on defense quite a bit. I think Inter has a decisive edge here.
EDGE: Inter
Coaching
-Everybody knows the Special One, Jose Mourinho. He was brought to Inter to win the Champions League trophy that he failed to win at Chelsea. He faces off against a man he worked under at Barcelona, Louis Van Gaal. Both men have already won a CL trophy (Mourinho at Porto and Van Gaal at Ajax) and both men are looking to win their third trophy this season. Van Gaal has provided the needed discipline to a Bayern team that fell off the wagon last year, while Mourinho might dream of himself coaching Real Madrid next year in the Bernebeau. Whereas the attention for Mourinho's Inter is on himself, Van Gaal puts the team in the spotlight first as it should be. There's simply too many distractions surrounding Mourinho to give him the edge here.
EDGE: Bayern
X-Factors
-The benches might come up key for each team: Bayern can go to established stars like Klose and Gomez if they are behind while Inter can turn to talented subs like Mario Balotelli or Sulley Muntari. Inter has taken out Chelsea and Barcelona in the QF and SF to get to Madrid while Bayern has had a little bit easier of a road in dealing with Man Utd and Lyon. The bookies and pundits seem to favor Inter, and with so much pressure on Mourinho to deliver the CL trophy, Bayern Munich might come in a little looser, and with an underdog mentality. Giving that mental edge to such a talented team might be the factor that swings the pendulum in their favor.
EDGE: Bayern
Final Verdict
-This game is really very close to call. Both teams are so talented and have such offensive firepower that it could be a very memorable Champions League Final. While Inter might have the slightly better team, the intangibles point firmly in the direction of Bayern Munich. It might take extra time or penalties, but I see Bayern sneaking this one out... very quietly of course.
PICK: Bayern
After Saturday, it will be full speed ahead towards the World Cup and we'll be with you for our thoughts every step of the way, bye for now!
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