CL final: Bayern v Chelsea preview

Team news for Saturday night's Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Chelsea at the Allianz Arena (kick-off 7.45pm).

Last Updated: 18/05/12 at 20:48    Bet with SkyBet  Champions League. Click here to bet.

Luiz: Late fitness test for Blues

Luiz: Late fitness test for Blues

Chelsea caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo is "very hopeful" Gary Cahill and David Luiz will be fit to start for the Londoners.

The centre-back pair only returned to full training on Tuesday after being out for three and four weeks respectively with hamstring injuries.

Florent Malouda is set to train on Friday night after a hamstring problem of his own, but John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Ramires and Raul Meireles are all suspended.

Franck Ribery could be the key to ending Bayern Munich's 11-year wait for Champions League glory, according to their captain Philipp Lahm.

The German club were close to succeeding two years ago when they were beaten by Inter Milan in the Madrid final, but unlike on that night when Ribery was suspended, the Frenchman will be available to face Chelsea on Saturday night.

That, according to Lahm, is the biggest difference between then and now.

"He is an excellent footballer and he is a player who can decide games, we all know that," said Lahm.

"He missed out two years ago so will be particularly motivated. He has already proven many times how important he is to us.

"We all have the hunger to win this cup and it will be a difficult task and Franck will make his contribution for us to win."

Those words were echoed by Bayern's vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has further questioned the suspension ruling which deprives his side of Luiz Gustavo, Holger Badstuber and David Alaba for Saturday's final while Chelsea have to make do without Ivanovic, Meireles and Ramires, who also picked up second yellow cards in the semi-final.

"I think it can be decisive that Ribery, who was suspended back then, will be back," said the 27-year-old.

"For me personally, he is an excellent player who can make the difference.

"I personally think it would have been better if all the players, both for Chelsea and for us, were on board.

"Sadly the rules are such that these players are suspended in the final.

"I think it is not optimal, but both teams have the same number of suspended players so it is the same for both sides."

Chelsea (from): Cech, Ferreira, Bosingwa, Cahill, Luiz, Cole, Bertrand, Mikel, Romeu, Essien, Lampard, Mata, Malouda, Drogba, Torres, Sturridge, Kalou, Turnbull, Chalobah, Kane.

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