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Chelsea host German champions Bayern Munich in what will prove to be an exciting match-up in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round.
It’s a rematch of one of the great Champions League finals in 2012. A Chelsea devoid of their captain John Terry who was suspended from the final as well as midfielder Ramires who scored in the semi-finals against Barcelona went 1-0 down in the 83rd minute through a Thomas Muller goal.
Don’t forget that the final was being held in Bayern’s home stadium, the Allianz Arena. As folklore tells, Chelsea equalized just five minutes later through a Didier Drogba bullet of a header who went on to score the winning penalty in the penalty shoot-out to bring a first Champions League trophy to Chelsea and London.
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Now in 2020, the man who captained Chelsea on the night is the manager of the very same club. Frank Lampard leads his side in his first Champions League campaign as a head coach against the team he defeated as a player.
While Chelsea is in transition as they attempt to navigate their fortunes as a club without Eden Hazard, Bayern Munich remains top of the food chain in Germany.
They’ve won the Bundesliga a remarkable seven times in a row and currently sit 1st on their way to an eighth consecutive title. Bayern has undergone a slight transition while remaining dominant. Both Frank Ribery and Arjen Robben are no longer at the club with the former a Fiorentina player and the latter retiring.
A new look defense consisting of Lucas Hernández, Niklas Sule, Alphonso Davies, and Joshua Kimmich is the backbone for Bayern for years to come.
Chelsea Odds Against Bayern Munich During a Down Year
Chelsea, on the other hand, isn’t as dominant as in previous years. The loss of Hazard, as well as a transfer ban, restricted the club from strengthening it and practically forced them to play some of their talented youth players.
And, what a decision it has been with the emergence of Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori and Reece James.
They, however, face uncharted waters in the knockout stages of the Champions League against an experienced side like Bayern.
The two teams have faced each other four times with both sides claiming two wins. The last game was a penalty shootout win for Bayern in the 2013 Super Cup.
Sportsbooks odds on a home Chelsea win and their first against Bayern since their famous win open at +310, making them underdogs. Odds on Bayern winning in London opens at -134, according to sportsbooks. Odds on a tie open at +300.
Can Chelsea Cause an Upset?
If there was any year Bayern Munich looked vulnerable and there for the taking, it would be this year.
Don’t get me wrong, they are still a fantastic side and are rightly the favorites, but we have seen glimpses of vulnerability from this Bayern side this season.
They’ve already lost four league games this season, matching their entire loss total of last season with one of those losses an embarrassing 5-1 defeat at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt.
They sit just one point ahead of RB Leipzig and look set for an exciting title challenge.
Bayern hasn’t been back to the Champions League final since they won it in 2013 and with the history of the defeat to Chelsea, a shock result may just be in store for the German side.
Best Sportsbook 2020
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