Champions League Final 2020
Krupesh Shah: Hello, and welcome to the Champions League Final. I'm here at Old Trafford today to cover the entire match - be sure to follow our live coverage here at Eurosport.
It'll be a very interesting Champions League Final. Bayern Munich manager David Beckham will be no stranger to Aston Villa, having managed them between 2012 and 2017. To face your old club in the Champions League Final, who can boast that?
There he is now, walking around the pitch and applauding both sides' fans. Oh, here comes the team line-ups, let's take a look.
Aston Villa: Bardi; Walker, Isimat-Mirin, Clark, Romero; Hacieyupoglu, Cork, Marilia, Nem; Fierro, Pinheiro
Bayern: Neuer; Borges, Lenti, Xulu, Legendre; Chamberlain, Kroos, Sylla, Hughes; Blanco, Ademilson
Let's take a look at the Bayern Munich line-up. Interestingly, four out of eleven in the Bayern Munich starting XI are Aston Villa old boys, and like Beckham, they will be facing their former club. Manuel Neuer in goal as usual, with Rodrigo Borges filling in for the injured Ryan Garland like he did in the DFB Pokal Final. Martin Legendre also starts at left-back, with Eneko Diez strangely relegated to the bench.
Legendre was brought in to Aston Villa in 2015, but never got his big break into the first team, but he certainly has at Bayern Munich, having made 45 appearances over 2 years.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is on the wing for Bayern, with Will Hughes on the left - both formerly key players with Aston Villa. Abdoulaye Sylla and Toni Kroos mans the central midfield.
And finally up front we have Jesus Blanco, the last Villa old boy, partnering star striker Ademilson.
In the side of Aston Villa, there is another interesting fact - only 3 of their starting XI were brought in by Malky Mackay, the rest having been signings of Beckham when he was at Villa Park.
Francesco Bardi starts in goal for the Villans, and Kyle Walker will also be dealing with the speediness of his England teammate Will Hughes at right-back. Nicolas Isimat-Mirin will partner Ciaran Clark in defense today with the unfortunate absence of Daniel Montero through injury, and John Romero will be at left-back as usual.
Gokmen Hacieyupoglu has really shone since Chamberlain's departure and here he is now, on the right wing for Bayern Munich where he will come face to face with his former teammate Legendre. Wellington Nem is on the other side of the midfield while Jack Cork and Marilia will be in the center. Up front is Carlos Fierro and Jose Pinheiro, two strikers very capable of getting important goals.
Overall, a very strong squad fielded from both sides. Let's see what they can do now.
1' - We kick off here at Old Trafford, the Theatre of Dreams. Bayern Munich and Aston Villa will go head to head, their second time clashing in a Champions League Final since 1982, where Villa won their first European Cup. Bayern will be hoping things are different this time.
8' VILLA GOAL
- Jose Pinheiro and Carlos Fierro combine, with Fierro lobbing it up for Pinheiro to get to it, and the Bolivian striker hits it past Manuel Neuer to give Aston Villa the lead!
8' - Bayern Munich respond immediately, but Ademilson's shot is blocked by Francesco Bardi.
17' BAYERN GOAL
- Will Hughes plays the one-two with Jesus Blanco and the Paraguayan international manages a strike which foils Bardi, superb play from both of the Aston Villa old boys. All square now.
31' BAYERN GOAL
- And Bayern Munich are quickly 2-1 up, thanks to the efforts of Ademilson this time. Martin Legendre crosses the ball - a beautiful cross, may I add - and Ademilson gets to it, striking it fiercely past Bardi.
31' - With Aston Villa's Marilia injured, Miguel Marques will come on to replace the defensive-minded midfielder.
32' - Wellington Nem crosses it for Carlos Fierro, and it almost seems like the Mexican will head it into the net, but Manuel Neuer rushes out, grabbing the ball first, relieving the Bayern fans on edge and disappointing the anticipating Villa fans.
34' - Aston Villa try again, but once more, Wellington Nem's cross is stopped by Manuel Neuer, just before the ball can get to Carlos Fierro.
45' - Half-time here at Old Trafford, with Bayern Munich leading 2-1, with Aston Villa are trying relentlessly to even the score. As of now, Bayern are on course for their sixth Champions League title.
HT: Aston Villa 1-2 Bayern Munich
45' - And the players are back out the tunnel, with Aston Villa looking more determined than ever.
52' - Gokmen Hacieyupoglu's free kick finds Wellington Nem but he is unable to do anything as Martin Legendre dispossesses him with a perfect tackle.
54' - Wellington Nem hits a free kick, a fantastic one, into the box, but Ademilson gets his head to it, knocking it clear before anyone else can.
55' - With Aston Villa having been attacking with vigour, it is Bayern's turn to respond, with Will Hughes darting past defenders with ease to finally finish his moves with a shot at goal, but Francesco Bardi blocks the shot!
62' - Abdoulaye Sylla is back on the Bayern Munich bench, with Thiago Alcantara coming on.
67' - Philipp Lahm makes his appearance in a second consecutive Final, with Rodrigo Borges making way.
69' BAYERN GOAL
- WHAT A FINISH! Jesus Blanco gets the ball, and left unmarked, has no trouble running down the pitch to the Aston Villa net, where he eventually lobs the ball superbly over Francesco Bardi! Holy moly! What a shot! His second goal of the game! Magical stuff from the former Villa man!
74' - Carlos Fierro is in a dangerous position and intends to strike it, but Siyanda Xulu is there just in time, dispossessing him.
85' - Aston Villa make a change with Wellington Nem coming off for Martin Olsson.
90' - AND THAT'S IT! Bayern Munich have won their sixth Champions League title! What a brilliant display from Beckham's boys, and what a disappointing result for Aston Villa! Great stuff here at Old Trafford!
FT: Aston Villa 1-3 Bayern Munich
Krupesh Shah: Both the players and the fans of Bayern will be partying throughout the night! Their sixth Champions League! Amazing!
David Beckham is also a great manager, there he is now comforting the Villa players instead of partying with his team - what a man.
Alright, that's it from me for tonight. I'm Krupesh Shah, reporting for Eurosport. Good night.
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