1) Take advantage of their counter-attacking soccer
The Blues advanced to the final of the Champions League in stunning fashion, as despite being outplayed over two legs by Barcelona they still managed to progress 3-2 on aggregate. In fact, Barca needed to score two more goals to eliminate them. Many brought Chelsea's success down to the fact that they defended their goal-line with up to all eleven of their men, but although this was a key factor, what made all of the difference was their ability to break on swift counter-attacks. All three of their goals in the semi-finals were scored from counter-attacks, those of Didier Drogba, Ramires and Fernando Torres.
Another factor that could boost Chelsea's chances of scoring is the fact that the Bavarians have a rather vulnerable defence. Not only will Holger Badstuber and David Alaba be unavailable, but Jerome Boateng will have to play outside his usual position. Last Saturday Bayern Munich's weaknesses were again exposed, this time in the final of the German Cup, where they were thrashed 5-2 by Borussia Dortmund.
2) Find an adequate replacement for the suspended Ramires
The Brazilian international has been arguably Chelsea's best player of the season, not only because of his tireless efforts on the field, where he battles for every ball and simply doesn't stop running, but because he has scored key goals for the Blues, including their first goal at the Camp Nou, and their opener in their FA Cup final triumph over Liverpool. Unfortunately, Roberto Di Matteo will be unable to count with the services of the midfielder for the final, due to suspension.
While captain John Terry, Raul Miereles and Branislav Ivanovic will also miss the game, the absence of Ramires will surely be felt more than that of any other player. The Blues have no choice but to find a replacement for the Brazilian, and the best man for the job appears to be Daniel Sturridge. Despite having made seven Champions League appearances this season, the midfielder hasn't managed to score a single goal, but although not as dangerous as Ramires, he could still be a worthy replacement.
3) Be aware of Bayern's deadly attack
Another reason why Chelsea reached the final of the competition at the expense of Barca, is that they came out on top in the aerial battle between the two sides. There's no doubt that Barcelona are the best side in Europe when it comes playing the ball around and getting into ideal goal-scoring positions, but when it appeared that there was no way to penetrate the Chelsea defense, they resorted to the use of what ended up being useless crossing. Due to the fact that Barca have few players who are known for their heading ability, Chelsea pretty much won every ball, as it suited their style.
But with Bayern, Chelsea confront a side who are known for their aerial ability, with the likes of Mario Gomez, who scored 26 goals in the German league this season, up front. But not only are Bayern dangerous in the air, but also down the flanks, with Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery being responsible for 14 of their goals in the Champions League this season.
4) Don't allow Bayern to become comfortable in front of their own fans
There's no question as to who are the odds on favourites to win the Champions League. Not only do Bayern Munich have a far greater history than Chelsea in the competition, but they count with home-field advantage as the final will be staged at their very own Allianz Arena. It will definitely feel like an away game for the Blues, but they will have no choice but to try their best to spoil the party, no matter how difficult it may seem. An early Bayern goal could almost be catastrophic for Chelsea, so Di Matteo's side will have to make sure the Germans don't bombard them early on. Like Michael Ballack, who played for both sides, recently said, Bayern Munich have an "emotional advantage" that will make life very difficult for the Blues.
However, a good way to contain the Germans would be by maintaining ball possession, as not only would it allow the visitors to feel somewhat more relaxed, but it could possibly annoy Bayern. Disrupting the game approach desired by the hosts would be an important way to gain an upperhand in the final. However, if Chelsea do manage to take the lead, which could possibly come from a swift counter-attack, they could possibly adopt the same strategy which they used against Barcelona. As they proved at the Camp Nou, Chelsea are more than capable of absorbing heavy pressure, whether it comes on the field or off it.
5) Chelsea need to triumph to qualify for next year's Champions League
Having finished in a highly disappointing sixth place of the English Premier League, Chelsea have no choice but to win the Champions League to qualify for the competition next season. This means that if they lose the game, they will not only miss out on the chance of becoming European champions for the very first time, but they will also miss out on the opportunity next season.
Not only will they be motivated about winning in Munich, but they know that hoisting the title will also ensure them of passage next season. Having already purchased Marko Marin and Kevin De Bruyne and with many more signings likely to come, the Blues are expected to be a force next season, but it will be pointless if they don't mix it with the elite clubs on the continent.
