UEFA Super Cup Preview: Pep and Mou clash once more

European Champions will look to defend their perch

The heavy burden of being ‘European Champions’ and ‘The best team in the world’ might weigh down on their shoulders anytime soon. They, nevertheless, would want a longer reign than Barcelona in this regard.

To continue to occupy the throne, they must first defeat Chelsea and then focus on December’s Club World Cup. The win is more important because they were undone by Dortmund in the Domestic Super Cup a few weeks ago. That memory still lingers on, until something of note temporarily erases it.

The Bavarians will be extremely delighted to play a Drogba-less Chelsea after all the harm the Ivorian has caused in meetings of the past seven years. Oliver Khan once stated that Double D (Drogba) is the best striker he faced in his immensely exceptional career. That is some compliment considering the fact that Ronaldo Da Lima sent him to the cleaners eleven years ago in the World Cup title match.

But there is a man who can have as big an influence as Didier in Mourinho’s squad. He is Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian starlet scored 17 League goals for West Brom last season, including a 45 minute hat-trick against Manchester United. Any one who has such an impressive resume can do damage at any level, given the chance.

If he gets the nod to spearhead the attack, the likes of Dante and Boateng must keep a close eye on him. The trio of Oscar-Hazard-Ramires have featured in all three Mourinho managed games so far. Goes to show how highly he rates them. Lampard’s starting berth might be threatened now, with the arrival of Willian. Th ex-Anzhi and Shakhtar playmaker signed for the Europa League winners rather than Tottenham Hotspur.

For Chelsea, the likes of Franck Ribery (Winner of the UEFA Player of the Year award), Arjen Robben (who Mourinho and Chelsea know so well), Mario Mandzukic, Bastian Schweinsteiger (doubtful for the clash)-unarguably the best midfielder in Europe this year, and Thomas Mueller are the biggest threats to their ambition of becoming holders of the 2013 UEFA Super Cup.

The ‘Robbery’ (Robben-Ribery) gang were unplayable last season and have continued in similar fashion this term. Last Saturday, they scored two beauties to win the Bavarian Derby vs a stubborn Nurnberg. Robben’s the peak of the double. Thomas Mueller has grown into one of the best players in the world since his excellent performance at the 2010 World Cup.

When he is called upon, he rarely fails to deliver. Mandzukic was the reason why Gomez headed to Italy. The Croat has grown in leaps and bounds since his arrival from the Volkswagen Arena last summer. Has been a regular in all of Pep’s starting line-ups since the beginning of the season. Schweini is the dominant force in the Bayern midfield.

Never one to shy away from the big ones. An excellent ball distributor, a great tackler and one with an eye for goal is the complete package. The Bundesliga Champions are such a lucky bunch. It is a pity that Thiago will be unavailable for the Treble winners. However, there are so many options in midfield and attack. He won’t be missed.

For both teams, pride and history are at stake…and then the small matter of managerial supremacy between two of the greatest managers of all time. Although, Pep has the big H2H advantage, if he loses this to Mourinho, it would perhaps be the most excruciating loss of his career yet.

The Chelsea coach will want nothing more than victory over his biggest rival of the last five years. How sweet it will taste.

Probable Line-ups

Bayern Munich: Neuer, Lahm, Dante, Boateng, Alaba, Schweini, Kroos, Robben, Ribery, Muller, Mandzukic

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Oscar, Mata, Hazard, Lukaku

Bayern can lay claims to the fact that they have the best eleven in European club football at the moment. Most of their players are top five in the world in their respective positions. That says a lot. The game might be decided by small details and Cech/Neuer might well be decisive too. There’s an old saying that attack wins games, defence wins titles.

Without a strong rearguard, the possibility to accumulating titles in world football is very slim. Jose Mourinho started the Manchester United game without a recognised striker. He is unlikely to repeat the same on Friday. The ‘False nine’ tactic is not one of his strong points and would have backfired if RVP and co. were not profligate in front of goal.

The bulk of the team that featured at the Theatre of Dreams will again be called upon – De Bruyne and Schurrle may have to start from the bench.