BAYERN MUNICH
GK: Manuel Neuer – 6
Dealt well with Chelsea’s only shot on target in a quiet first half when saving smartly from Salomon Kalou at the near post. Flapped at a couple of crosses but could do little about Drogba’s bullet header. Scored a penalty in the shoot-out and saved from Mata, yet would ultimately be denied.
RB: Philipp Lahm – 8
As classy as his reputation for being one of the world’s best full-backs suggests, the captain coped easily with Ryan Bertrand and also came into the centre to help snuff out the threat of Drogba in the first half. He became an important attacking outlet as the game wore on and was never less than impeccable, his crossing from deep on the right giving Chelsea persistent problems.
CB: Jerome Boateng – 6
Drawn into a messy foul on Gary Cahill 20 yards from goal early on and though he was otherwise largely untroubled, it was the Germany defender who crucially lost Drogba for the equaliser late on. This lapse tainted an otherwise acceptable performance.
CB: Anatoli Tymoschuk – 7
An initially accomplished display from the makeshift centre-back. He showed his training as a midfielder when stepping out of defence on occasion but after being moved forward following the introduction of Daniel van Buyten, errors began to creep into his game.
LB: Diego Contento – 7
The occasion did not faze Bayern’s least experienced player and he linked up well with Ribery on the left, delivering one particularly delicious cross for Mueller. A crucial clearance denied Kalou an almost certain goal in a performance of quiet authority.
CM: Toni Kroos – 8
Unflustered in the deeper role he was asked to fill as a result of the absence of Luiz Gustavo, Kroos used the ball well and was tenacious in winning it back. Pushed forward after the substitution of Mueller, Kroos continued to excel, still expending maximum effort even in the dying seconds of extra time. A superb performance.
CM: Bastian Schweinsteiger – 7
His early booking for handball was stupid, but otherwise Schweinsteiger was in decent form, constructing moves from the centre of the pitch and contributing well in both attacking and defensive phases of play. His neat passing helped Bayern dominate the game, but he will only remember this evening for his penalty striking the post in the shoot-out.
AMR: Arjen Robben – 6
Saw his low effort deflect up off Cech and strike the bar in the first half and was a constant menace with his direct running and pace. However, he was very wasteful in front of goal, no more so then when seeing his limp penalty saved in extra time, and rued a succession of missed chances that cost his side dearly.
AMC: Thomas Mueller – 7
Playing in the No. 10 role, the German international found space intelligently but his final touch was faulty with two important misses in the first half. Though he scored Bayern’s opening goal with a back-post header, Mueller could and should have added to the scoreline as his finishing proved far too wayward.
AML: Franck Ribery – 7
The France star was typically elusive, not afraid of coming central or even to the right to search out the ball. He had one goal ruled out for offside and saw a cross almost sneak under the bar, but his frustration grew as his failure to punish Chelsea continued. He won the penalty in injury time but was taken off following Drogba's challenge.
ST: Mario Gomez – 5
Reverted to his dreadful form circa Euro 2008 in a poor first half that saw him waste two excellent chances. The striker – who scored 12 goals this season in the Champions League – struggled throughout, his wastefulness symptomatic of Bayern’s inability to finish the game off. Lacked the confidence of Drogba.
Subs:
Daniel van Buyten (on 87') – 6
Had one decent effort blocked and looked at home in defence despite making his first appearance since the end of January.
Ivica Olic (on 97') – 6
He injected some impetus into a flagging Bayern attack but should have shot when played in by Lahm. With the goal at his mercy in extra time, he instead opted to cross for a hesitant Van Buyten, who let the chance slip.
CHELSEA
GK: Petr Cech – 6
Was a bit lucky to get away with his attempt to save Robben’s low shot early on and was also culpable for the Mueller goal as he let the bouncing ball evade his grasp. A fantastic save to deny Olic in the shoot-out could not disguise an otherwise mixed display.
RB: Jose Bosingwa – 6
A lazy early backpass did not bode well for a player who does not exactly inspire confidence, and the Portuguese full-back was later lucky not to be booked for a clumsy challenge on Ribery. Had a nasty habit of being exposed but tightened up as the game reached the closing stages.
CB: David Luiz – 6
There were none of the calamitous scenes that have marked some of his performances for Chelsea, though having been booked Luiz did push his luck with another poor challenge. His distribution from the back was also disappointing, a succession of long passes failing to find their target and ceding possession back to Bayern all too readily.
CB: Gary Cahill – 7
Was one of his side’s few good performers in an awful first half for Chelsea. Alert to the danger posed by Bayern, he nevertheless had some nervy moments as Chelsea soaked up almost constant pressure from the home side.
LB: Ashley Cole – 9
Drawn into an early foul but he quickly settled down, producing the kind of accomplished performance that has become routine. As the game progressed his authority only grew, an incredible block to deny Robben summing up his fantastic night as he helped repel the dangerous Dutchman.
CM: John Obi Mikel – 6
Though a calm and assured presence in his holding midfield role when in possession, without the ball Mikel found himself all too easily bypassed by Kroos and Schweinsteiger in midfield.
CM: Frank Lampard – 6
Flitted in and out of the game from his withdrawn role and often found himself too far away from Mata and Drogba as the Chelsea attack became isolated. Not as influential as in recent performances as Chelsea were overpowered and outplayed in the centre of the park.
AMR: Salomon Kalou – 6
A sprightly figure, his industrious performance justified his inclusion ahead of Daniel Sturridge. He tested Neuer with one firm effort towards the near post and looked keen to run at Contento when possible.
AMC: Juan Mata – 7
His use of the ball was largely immaculate, though a couple of stray passes hinted perhaps at a touch of nerves. Chelsea’s unadventurous approach did not suit the talented Spaniard and he tried in vain to launch counter-attacks, to no avail. However, it was his lovely corner that teed up Drogba for the dramatic equaliser.
AML: Ryan Bertrand – 5
Looked unsure how to react when Robben switched to the opposite flank to join Ribery and was unable to provide an attacking threat either. His removal came as no surprise; this game came a touch too soon for the youngster.
ST: Didier Drogba – 8
Took the game to extra time with his equaliser and then struck the winning penalty to make Chelsea Champions League winners for the first time. This being Drogba, there was a moment of self-combustion when he gave away the penalty in extra-time, but his impact on the game was undeniably huge
Subs:
Florent Malouda (on 73’) – 6
Made no real appreciable impact in attack, though his experience brought Chelsea some composure on the left.
Fernando Torres (on 84') – 6
Certainly looked keen to impress and put in the yards after replacing Kalou on the right of the attack. However, his brightest moment – a darting run into the box – was ruined by a heavy touch at the crucial moment.
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