2011-12 UEFA Champions League – Bayern Munich to Face Chelsea in Final

Thursday, 26 April, 2012 Report by Rajarshi Ghosh

Bayern Munich defeated Real Madrid 3-1 in a penalty shootout to book a home Champions League final against Chelsea on May 19.

Real came into the match trailing 2-1 on aggregate from the first leg in Munich last week.
An early Cristiano Ronaldo brace put the hosts in charge at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
But Arjen Robben pulled a goal back with a spot-kick of his own just before the half-hour mark, levelling the tie 3-3 on aggregate.

Following a frantic, entertaining first 45 minutes, the match became cagey in the second half, as neither side proved willing to over commit. And with extra-time unable to separate the teams, the semi-final was settled by the lottery of a penalty shootout.

Ironically, it was Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, booed by the club's fans for his Schalke allegiances upon signing in June, who proved the hero. The Germany international saved from both Ronaldo and Kaka, before Sergio Ramos blasted his attempt sky high, allowing Bastian Schweinsteiger to net the winning penalty.

Bayern now have the opportunity to become the first club to win the Champions League at their own stadium when they tackle Chelsea at the Allianz Arena on May 19.

On the other hand a late Fernando Torres strike sealed an incredible come-from-behind aggregate win for Chelsea and dump Barcelona from the Champions League.

A 10-man Blues outfit held on against the odds to record a 2-2 draw to secure a 3-2 aggregate triumph and advance to the showpiece final. An astonishing end to the first half saw Sergio Busquets open the scoring from close range before John Terry saw red for kneeing Alexis Sanchez in the back off the ball.

Andres Iniesta had then calmly finished from a Lionel Messi through-ball to seemingly put the hosts clear before Ramires' incredible chipped goal on the counterattack. Didier Drogba gave away a penalty at the start of the second half but Messi uncharacteristically cracked it against the crossbar, and it fell to substitute Torres in added time to put it out of the hosts' reach after rounding Victor Valdes.