2012 Champions League Final vs Chelsea FC

Lore & Background

Bayern Munich were making their ninth appearance in the competition's final, having won four and lost four, most recently losing in 2010. It was the first Champions League final to be held at the Allianz Arena (known as Fußball Arena München for the final). As tenants of the Arena, this meant Bayern were the first finalists to have home advantage since 1984. Bayern took the lead late in the second half through Thomas Müller, but Didier Drogba equalised for Chelsea five minutes later to take the game to extra time, in which Arjen Robben missed an awarded penalty, Petr Čech saving the low drive. The teams stayed level at 1–1 and the match went to a penalty shoot-out, which Chelsea won 4–3 to clinch their first Champions League title.

In Their Own Story

The rain lashed against the floodlights as the clock ticked past ninety minutes. Inside the Allianz Arena, the roar of seventy-five thousand voices had turned to a collective gasp. Thomas Müller's goal in the 83rd minute had ignited a firestorm of hope; for seven minutes, it felt like destiny was finally within reach. But then, the whistle blew for stoppage time, and the world seemed to tilt on its axis. Didier Drogba rose above the defense, his header finding the net with brutal precision. The stadium fell into a stunned silence, a vacuum of sound that swallowed the Bavarian dream whole. In extra time, Arjen Robben stepped up to take a penalty that could have sealed it all. He struck the ball, but it flew wide, leaving him slumped on the grass as the referee pointed to the spot for the shootout. It was not the fairytale ending written in the stars.

Reader's Guide

Both teams progressed to the knockout stages by finishing top of their group. Bayern then beat Basel, Marseille and Real Madrid to reach the final, while Chelsea knocked out Napoli, Benfica and defending champions Barcelona. The match was the fourth occasion that a team had reached a final of the European Cup which was scheduled to be played at their own home ground, after 1957, 1965 and 1984, and the first occasion since the tournament was rebranded to the UEFA Champions League.

Did You Know?

• Bayern Munich were the first finalists to have home advantage since 1984.
• Thomas Müller scored in the 83rd minute, not in the dying minutes.
• Chelsea became the first London club to win the tournament.
• The Allianz Arena was referred to as 'Fußball Arena München' for the final because UEFA does not recognise sponsorship by companies that are not among its partner organisations.