Chelsea: Three key clashes to look for as Blues seek a miracle

3. History versus actuality

The actuality of the situation is that Chelsea is, at best, a tier two club. They can compete for everything domestically and they have a chance to win the Champions League, but none of that is a guarantee season to season. Bayern, meanwhile, is tier one. They are favorites for every domestic trophy every season. The Champions League truly has no favorites, but they are surely expected to make a deep run.

History is also important, especially in this fixture. Bayern Munich has lost few pieces of silverware since 2012. Chelsea, even with the decade paling in comparison to the previous one, still finds themselves lifting trophy after trophy. But that is not the history that matters in Munich. Only that night in 2012 does.

Chelsea was expected to lose. They came in and parked the bus because there is no room for aesthetics or “play the game the right way” when the Champions League is on the line. When they went down 1-0, it seemed over. Didier Drogba proved it was not. When it went to penalties, it seemed over. Petr Cech proved it was not.

The memory of that night will be seared into the brains of everyone that played. One of those players, Frank Lampard, is Chelsea manager. Another, Cech, is basically the technical director. Ashley Cole coaches with the youth. On the other side, Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng, and Manuel Neuer all still play for Bayern. They were key players then and they are key players now.

The stories these former and current players tell their teams will bleed into this match. Lampard has to urge his side on, saying nothing is impossible. The Germans will be trying to convince their teammates that nothing is guaranteed and they should not take anything for granted.

Whoever makes the most appealing argument to their players may gain another advantage in the match. Bayern’s already been thinking about the prospect of another miracle in Munich. Lampard’s side has to do their best to make it possible despite all the odds.

What are your key clashes and things to look for against Bayern? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!