UEFA Champions League Final Odds Preview: helsea FC vs. FC Bayern Munich

So it all comes down to this.

What most fans, oddsmakers and soccer experts thought would be an all-Spanish, Barcelona-Real Madrid final ended up being a surprise matchup between the now sixth-place team in the English Premier League and the second-place team in Germany’s Bundesliga.

Here are all the particulars and opening odds from the LVH SuperBook here in Las Vegas for the match that will determine this year's European champion:

What: UEFA Champions League final
Who: Chelsea FC vs. FC Bayern Munich
Where: Fußball Arena München, Munich, Germany
When: Saturday, May 19th, 2012
Time: 2:45 p.m. ET/11:45 a.m. PT/20:45 p.m. (Munich)
Television: FOX 
Radio: SiriusXM

LVH SuperBook Odds (To Win Outright): Bayern Munich -240, Chelsea +200
LVH SuperBook (90 Mins + Injury Time): Chelsea +½ +125, Bayern Munich -½ -145
Total: Over 2½ -105, Under 2½ -115
LVH SuperBook Odds (3-way Result): Chelsea +425, Bayern Munich -145, Draw +270

Both clubs arrive at this game coming off big upsets in the semifinal round with Chelsea ousting Barcelona (3-2 aggregate) and Bayern Munich eliminating Real Madrid (3-3 aggregate, 3-1 penalty kicks). Both did so in matches held on the road in Spain.

Who will win the UEFA Champions League Final?

Chelsea FCFC Bayern MunichI don't knowSubmit Vote vote to see results

And anyone betting on either the team from Germany (+375, Sportsbook.com) or England (+650) in the “Which Country Will Win UEFA Champions League?” proposition bet or the “Name the Finalists” prop (Chelsea-Bayern Munich +400) can give themselves a big pat on the back right about now for fading the two talented sides from La Liga.

Besides the obvious prestige and the chance to bring the trophy back to west London,Chelsea may very well be heading into this match needing a win to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season, depending on what happens in its final three EPL matches.

For Bayern Munich, which will enjoy the luxury of playing in its home city, a win in this game can exorcise some of the demons for not winning the Bundesliga (won byBorussia Dortmund) this campaign.

Der FCB will shooting for its fifth UEFA Champions League championship, while the Blues will be seeking their first-ever CL title here. Bayern Munich last won in 2001, while Chelsea lost to EPL rival Manchester United back in 2008 in its only CL final appearance.

Besides playing in Munich, Chelsea will be also hampered by being without the services of captain John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Ramires and Raul Meireles for the final.

Terry was red-carded for kneeing Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez in the back of his leg during the semifinal second leg while Ivanovic, Ramires and Meireles all received yellow cards in the match.

Chelsea captain John Terry will miss the match after receiving a red card against Barcelona in Leg 2 of the semifinal.

Those yellow cards took their total bookings for the tournament to three and led to their subsequent one-match suspensions.

The Blues will also be hoping defenders David Luiz and Gary Cahill recover from hamstring injuries for the big May 19th match. Without Terry and Ivanovic, interim manager Roberto Di Matteo may have to start Ashley Cole, Jose Bosingwa, Paulo Ferreira and Ryan Bertrand on the back line.

Bayern Munich will be without three players of its own in David Alaba, Holger Badstuber and Luiz Gustavo, who also received three total bookings in the tourney.

The international players union FIFPro issued a plea for clemency for the six players (besides Terry) who were banned, but it was rejected.

Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes will likely have Mario Gomez, Arjen Robben,Franck Ribéry, Toni Kroos, Daniel van Buyten, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, Jérôme Boateng and possibly Thomas Müller in his starting lineup, with Manuel Neuer in goal.

Without the aforementioned four Chelsea players banned for the match, Di Matteo may have that patchwork defense along with Petr Cech in goal.

He'll likely have Frank Lampard, John Obi-Mikel, Juan Mata and Didier Drogba in his starting lineup and players like Fernando Torres, Daniel Sturridge, Florent Malouda, Salomon Kalou, Oriol Romeu and Michael Essien at his disposal.

Despite the momentum the Blues are enjoying of late under Di Matteo’s stewardship, Bayern Munich looks to be the healthier club. With Bayern's home-field edge and Chelsea having four of its most important players missing the game, the odds (Bayern Munich -240) reflect this reality.

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is a big reason his club is playing for the European crown on May 19.
Martin Rose/Getty Images

Should Chelsea need the win to qualify for the 2012-13 UEFA CL, I expect an even stronger and more desperate performance with both Luiz and Cahill being fit for the final.

Both goalkeepers have been fabulous and a big reason these two sides are playing in this match, so the difference may come down to Chelsea’s ability, or inability, to effectively control Robben andRibéry on the flanks.

For the Blues to pull off the upset, I believe Mata and Lampard will have to be at their best. If both Drogba and Torres are playing on the pitch together for some reason, they will need to find some quick chemistry.

Despite the high odds in Bayern Munich’s favor, I expect this match to be extremely close and competitive and I wouldn’t be surprised if it went to extra time or even a shootout.

If it does go to a penalty shootout—as it did in 2003, 2005 and 2008—UEFA needs to really re-examine its current rules whereby the European soccer (football) champion, after all these matches, can be determined with just one defender (the goalkeeper) on the pitch and the clock turned off.

Just let them play until someone wins it on a goal, 11 versus 11. It’s pretty simple.

And as great as soccer is, both the World Cup and the UEFA Champions League could learn a little something by watching the NHL playoffs where they play as many overtimes as necessary until someone scores.

Chelsea veterans Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba will have to be at their best to beat Bayern Munich in Munich.
Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Fair and square. And even better for the fans and much easier on the losing side. Just ask Real Madrid.

Hopefully, this game of all games won’t be reduced to such foolishness on May 19th.

And if you want to bet on this match—just watching it is the best idea—I think the most sound approach is to take the club you want to win; betting Bayern Munich when you’re a Chelsea fan or vice versa can make for some really tough viewing.

Your best bet? Stock up and your favorite food and beverages, invite some friends over and make sure your dog has been walked ahead of the opening whistle.

Sayonara.

PREDICTION: Bayern Munich 2 Chelsea 1

BET: Over 2½ -105

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Barcelona hold as Real Madrid win La Liga title

Jose Mourinho promised improved results in his second season at Real Madrid, and the Portuguese coach delivered with a record 32nd Spanish league trophy to put a close to Barcelona's domestic dominance.

But while Madrid set a record goal total and Mourinho became the first manager to win a seventh league title across four different European leagues, his failure to give Madrid a chance at playing for a 10th European Cup by way of a Champions League final appearance will leave a bittersweet taste hanging over this season's accomplishment.

Madrid secured the Spanish title with a 3-0 victory at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, with Gonzalo Higuain again scoring the goal that clinched the title – just as the Argentina forward did four years ago.

Cristiano Ronaldo led a potent attack that surpassed the record mark of 109 goals set by Madrid 22 years ago, with 115 goals and counting, and two games still to play.

Ronaldo's 58 goals include 44 in the league, with the Portugal forward still dueling with Barcelona rival Lionel Messi – who leads with 46 – for the new mark.

"No one gifted us anything,'' Mourinho, always blunt, said Wednesday.

Madrid may not have met expectations in Europe, despite reaching a second straight semifinal, but at least it finally figured out a way to beat Barcelona.

Barcelona had dominated Spain's fiercest rivalry since coach Pep Guardiola's arrival in 2008, winning nine of 14 with only a single loss until Madrid's victory in last month's "clasico'' allowed it to take control of the title race and tilt the balance of power in Spain.

The 2-1 victory at the Camp Nou not only stretched Madrid's lead to seven points, but compounded a miserable week for Barcelona when Chelsea eliminated it from the Champions League semifinal and Guardiola announced his decision to leave the club at the close of the season.

Madrid's turnaround started in January with a 2-2 Copa del Rey draw at Barcelona, a result that swung the momentum in its favor despite Barcelona winning the series to advance to the cup final.

Mourinho's attacking scheme led by Mesut Oezil and Kaka helped the visitors dominate that game as "Los Meringues'' rallied from a 2-0 deficit to draw and put a dent in the belief of Guardiola's team, which had won 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in December.

Jolted into believing it could finally compete with its arch rival, Madrid gained further confidence as it went on a 15-game winning streak – to tie a 1960-61 team record – after the December loss to establish a 10-point lead over Barcelona by the time the three-time defending champion lost 3-2 in subzero temperatures at Osasuna in March.

The Madrid media was already talking about the Spanish leaders moving 16 points ahead by the time of the season's second clasico to inflict further embarrassment on the Catalans, who would get to perform the traditional "pasillo'' – Or passage of honour for the champions – at the Camp Nou if they could stretch the advantage.

But Barcelona won all 12 games leading up to last month's second clasico, with Mourinho no longer speaking with the Spanish media after a third draw in five rounds saw his team's advantage cut to four points.

Madrid showed no fear to win 2-1 at Barcelona on April 20 to all but secure the title and cap its turnaround from the start of the season when it lost to Barcelona in a Spanish Super Cup match that descended into a brawl and is best remembered for Mourinho poking Guardiola's successor Tito Vilanova in the eye.

The eye poke continued an ugly trend by Mourinho, whose surly behavior and constant conspiracy theories were ultimately unappreciated by fans, who jeered at the coach for the first time following the Copa del Rey loss to Barcelona.

Daily sports newspaper Marca, a staunch Madrid supporter, called Madrid an "insignificant, distasteful team'' after the 2-1 cup loss.

"Madrid has thrown its entire history overboard by electing this woeful style, which did not produce a single benefit,'' Marca columnist Santi Segurola wrote. "Spanish football remembers a lot of (Madrid) teams with less talent that made it more difficult for Barcelona.''

Mourinho replied by abandoning his normally defensive style in the return, and the subsequent 2-2 draw appeased supporters. Yet disappointment over Mourinho's impact on Madrid's image simmers in the Spanish capital despite the 49-year-old making good on his promise of improved results.

But Mourinho's decision to play defensively when leading Bayern Munich 2-0 after 15 minutes of their Champions League semifinal return ultimately cost his team, as it sat back and Bayern dominated to eventually score a necessary away goal before winning on penalties.

On the field, Ronaldo wasn't the only player who elevated Madrid to the title as it lost only twice through 36 games, winning 30 of those.

Karim Benzema has 20 goals in the league and 31 overall and coupled with Gozalo Higuain's 22 league goals, Madrid is still inflating the record goal total set by a trio.

Midfielder Xabi Alonso proved indispensable in midfield with Borussia Dortmund signing Nuri Sahin never easing into the team, while defenders Sergio Ramos and Marcelo continued to improve as new signing Fabio Coentrao failed to justify his (euro) 30 million ($40 million) transfer.

Whether Higuain and Kaka remain next season is a question mark as the pair featured less over the stretch run, with the Brazilian playmaker and former world player of the year making only four appearances since the beginning of April.

Mourinho has pledged his commitment to see out the deal he signed after bolting from Inter Milan, and the obsession over the Champions League is bound to thrive for both manager and club.

"This one was the hardest,'' Mourinho said of his collective league titles, which include two at FC Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan. "But the next one will be even harder.''

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La Liga: Real Madrid clinch La Liga title

MADRID:Real Madrid claimed their first Spanish title in four years ending the reign of bitter rivals Barcelona to boot as they beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 on Wednesday for what is their 32nd league crown. Gonzalo Higuain, Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo scored the goals to give Jose Mourinho a record-breaking four titles in four different countries and the victory required with two games remaining. Mourinho’s first Spanish league title ended Barca’s run of three successive league titles in his second season at the club. Madrid needed to win after Barcelona had earlier beat Malaga 4-1 with goals from Carles Puyol and a hat-trick from Lionel Messi that saw him break Gerd Mueller’s record for goals in a single European season. Madrid started at a great pace and Higuain and Fabio Coentrao both went close within the first two minutes. Markel Susaeta then tested Iker Casillas in the Madrid goal with a header before Madrid were awarded a penalty on 11 minutes for a clear handball by Javi Martinez. However, Ronaldo shot straight down the centre which was easily saved by Gorka Iraizoz – it was his second penalty miss in a week after last Wednesday’s Champions League shoot-out against Bayern Munich. The Portuguese star need not have worried, five minutes later ‘los blancos’ were ahead when Higuain hit an unstoppable shot from 20 yards. At the other end Athletic did not have as much luck when the referee turned down claims for what looked to be another clear handball, this time by Sami Khedira. The title then became a virtual certainty on 20 minutes when Ronaldo found Ozil with a sweeping cross from the right-wing for the German midfielder to double the lead. The home side kept up an aerial bombardment of Madrid’s defence throughout. Inigo Perez provoked a great save from Casillas before Mikel San Jose followed-up only to strike the bar on the stroke of half-time. Five minutes after the interval Ronaldo headed home a corner to add the third and his 44th league goal of the season. Athletic continued to look for a consolation roared on by a partisan home crowd, but they were reduced to 10 men on 73 minutes when Martinez was sent-off for a second yellow card after another handball. Barca coach Pep Guardiola had earlier named a strong side as the Catalans attempted to delay Madrid’s celebrations as long as possible. A defeat against fourth placed Malaga would have handed the title to Madrid without them kicking a ball, but Barca ran out convincing winners over fourth placed Malaga. Messi’s hat-trick inspired the win and takes his total tally to 68, one better than that mustered by Mueller while playing for Bayern Munich in the 1972-73 season. Also on Wednesday Valencia won 4-0 at home to Osasuna, for whom Dejan Lekic was sent-off before half-time, with a double each from Aritz Aduriz and Jonas Goncalves to edge closer to sealing third position and a Champions League place. The win leaves Valencia three points clear of Malaga and six ahead of city rivals Levante.

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