The 2012 Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Chelsea. The Blues stunned Munich in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at the Allianz Arena to win the Champions League for the first time. . At one stage Bayern Munich were leading 3-1 in the penalty shoot and the Chelsea players stood in line, heads bowed, fearing the worst. They were on the brink of walking past the European Cup and not being allowed to touch the silver. However what happened next was something totally extraordinary. Petr Cech saved Ivica Olic penalty and with Bayern’s next effort Bastian Schweinsteiger’s shot came back off the post. David Luiz, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole had all beaten Neuer and suddenly, it was left to Didier Drogba who stepped to convert that all important winning penalty, truly special considering that it was also his 88th-minute goal that had dragged this final into extra time. Here we look at the 22 players who started that game.
Bayern Munich
Manuel Neuer
Neuer is still with the German outfit and since that final has gone to become one of the world’s best keepers if not the best. He was third in 2014 in the voting for the FIFA Ballon d’Or award. The World Cup winner won the Golden Glove award in the 2014 World Cup Winner.
Philipp Lahm
Captain for the day, Lahm is regarded as one of the best left-backs to be playing currently. He captained his national team to the 2014 World Cup win. However, he retired that year from international football.
Jérôme Boateng
Another player who has stuck with the German giants. Boateng was excellent that season but since then he has struggled slightly. Although he was a key part of the German World Cup winning team.
Anatoliy Tymoshchuk
After the bitter disappointment of 2012 final, the Ukrainian international won the Champions League with Bayern in 2013, following which he moved to FC Zenit Saint Petersburg.
Diego Contento
Contento currently plays as a left back for Girondins de Bordeaux in the Ligue 1. He moved to France after spending a considerable part of his career with Bayern Munich.
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Schweinsteiger is considered a Bayern Munich legend, however, the German international moved to Manchester United in 2015. Since his move to England, the 2014 World Cup winner has seen his form dip considerably.
Toni Kroos
Kross was at Munich since the age of 17. He won the Champions League in 2013 and the 2014 World Cup with the German national team. afterwards, he moved to Real Madrid where he signed a 6-year contract.
Arjen Robben
Since the 2012 final, Robben has struggled with injuries on the constant base. He is the captain of the Dutch national team.
Thomas Muller
Another German who was crucial to Germany’s 2014 World Cup win. His uncanny habit of being in the right place at the right time makes him one of the most lethal strikers in the world right now.
Franck Ribéry
Similar to Robben, Ribery has seen very less game time in the past two three seasons due to constant concerns with an injury. After missing out on the French squad for the 2014 World Cup, he announced his retirement.
Mario Gomez
After winning the Champions League in 2013 with Bayern Munich, the German national moved to Italy to join Fiorentina. He was not included in the German World Winning squad.
Chelsea
Petr Cech
Cech was sensational at Chelsea but following the Arrival of Courtois, he saw very little game time, which prompted him to move to Arsenal in 2015.
José Bosingwa
After spending four years with Chelsea, Bosingwa moved to Queens Park Rangers in August 2012. However after QPR were relegated in 2013, he left the club on mutual consent and joined Trabzonspor in the Turkish Süper Lig.
David Luiz
One of the successful penalty takers in that famous shootout that day. In June 2014, the Brazilian superstar transferred to Paris Saint-Germain for a record fee of £50 million.
Gary Cahill
Cahill has since then established himself as a rock in the Blues defence. He won the Premier League title in the 2014-2015 season with Chelsea.
Ashley Cole
Cole played a key part in that 2012 final against Bayern Munich. However, after he lost his first team place to César Azpilicueta, the former English international moved to A S Roma in 2014.
John Obi Mikel
Although Mikel started the final in Germany, he has since then become a squad player in the Chelsea squad.
Frank Lampard
A Chelsea legend decided to leave the club after the 2014 World Cup. He signed a two-year contract with MLS side New York City FC, however, he later joined its parent club Manchester City on loan following a lot of controversies.
Salomon Kalou
Kalou left Chelsea soon after the 2012 Champions League win. He then moved to Lille. Currently he plays for German club Hertha BSC.
Juan Mata
Mata is currently playing for Jose Mourinho at Manchester United following his exit from Chelsea in 2014 orchestrated by the Portuguese manager.
Ryan Bertrand
Bertrand made his European debut in that 2012 final against Bayern Munich. He then moved to Southampton in July 2014.
Didier Drogba
Drogba was the man of the match in that final, which was also his final match before moving somewhere else. He joined Shanghai Shenhua in 2012, however he soon shifted to Galatasaray then coming back to Chelsea for a brief period. He currently plays for Montral Impact in America.
Manchester United Women welcome Bayern Munich Women to Old Trafford on Wednesday night for the first leg of their Women’s Champions League quarter final showdown. The Red Devils have reached the last eight for the first time in their history after thrashing Atletico Madrid 5-0 across two legs in the knockout playoff round following their sixth place finish in the league phase.
Marc Skinner’s side have struggled for consistency since eliminating the Spanish side, suffering defeats to Chelsea in the FA Cup and League Cup final before being held to a dispiriting stalemate by West Ham. Fortunately, Melvine Malard struck deep into stoppage time against Everton on Saturday to snatch victory and lift United into second spot in the WSL table ahead of this crucial European fixture.
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT, Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
TV: TNT Sports
German Champions Riding Wave of Momentum
Jose Barcala’s Bayern side swerved the playoff round entirely by securing fourth spot in the league phase, edging out both Arsenal and Manchester United by a single point. The Bavarians are hunting their maiden Champions League crown while also chasing domestic glory in the Frauen Bundesliga and DFB Pokal after lifting the Super Cup earlier this season.
Bayern butchered Essen 5-0 last weekend with Pernille Harder bagging a brace, stretching their unbeaten streak to an intimidating 22 matches across all competitions. The visitors have plundered 18 goals while conceding just once in their previous six away fixtures, establishing themselves as clear favorites.
Skinner Sweating Over Miyazawa Availability
United will definitely be without Anna Sandberg, Leah Galton, and Ella Toone through various injuries, while fitness concerns linger over Dominique Janssen and Jayde Riviere. Hinata Miyazawa faces a race against time after representing Japan in their Asia Cup final triumph over Australia in Sydney on Saturday.
Bayern expects to miss Klara Buhl, Katharina Naschenweng, and Alara Sehitler, with Lena Oberdorf and Sarah Zadrazil still rehabilitating from serious knee ligament damage.
Predicted Lineups: Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Tullis Joyce, Awujo, Le Tissier, Turner, Lundkvist; Naalsund, Zigiotti Olme; Park, Terland, Rolfo; Malard
Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1): Mahmutovic, Gwinn, Viggosdottir, Gilles, Simon; Amani, Stanway; Dallmann, Caruso, Kett; Harder
Also read: Hanna Lundkvist Makes Feelings Known After Manchester United Women Stalemate Against West Ham
Bayern Munich
Georgia Stanway Gives Update on Future, Post Bayern Munich Amidst Arsenal Rumours as England Midfielder Says She is Very Close to Announcing New Club
England midfielder Georgia Stanway has given more details about her plans after she leaves Bayern Munich this summer. The 27 year old has spent four years in Germany and is now linked with a move back to the Barclays Women’s Super League, having announced her intention to depart the Frauenbundesliga at the end of her contract.
Ahead of the Lionesses’ meeting with Ukraine in Turkey on Tuesday afternoon, Stanway said she was very close to announcing her new club. “I’m very close. I’ve had lots of talks with people, also talks with Sarina, and you’ll find out sooner or later,” she told journalists.
Enjoyed Successful Seven Year Stint at City
Stanway enjoyed a successful seven year stint at Manchester City before joining Bayern, but she has been repeatedly linked with Arsenal this year. The Gunners are believed to be front runners for her signature as they look to strengthen their midfield options ahead of next season.
Stanway also reflected on how much she had enjoyed her time at Bayern and how challenging it had been to make the decision to leave. “It was really difficult. I’ve absolutely loved my time at Bayern. Honestly, joining the club has probably been one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. From the moment I got there, it felt like home.”
Never Want to Get Over It
The England international continued, “It was a really difficult decision to tell them that I wasn’t going to be re-signing, and that’s because I still love it there. I’ve kind of come to the conclusion that I want to always have good memories at Bayern. I never want to get to the point where I’m not enjoying something, or I’m a little bit over it.”
Bayern face Manchester United in the quarter finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League later this month, with Stanway hoping to end her German adventure on a high note.
Bayern Munich
West Ham WFC Sign Norway International From Bayern Munich WFC as Experienced Defender Becomes Fourth January Signing for Struggling Hammers
West Ham have signed Norway international Tuva Hansen from Bayern Munich as Rita Guarino continues to strengthen her struggling squad. The 28-year-old defender switches to the Women’s Super League, having won three consecutive Frauen Bundesliga titles in Germany and played in the Champions League.
With 60 international caps, Hansen has also represented her country at the World Cup and Euros. This is exactly the kind of experienced, winning mentality player West Ham desperately needs as they battle relegation from the WSL. Hansen is the Hammers’ fourth signing of this month’s transfer window, following Estelle Cascarino, Ria Bose, and Anna Josendal.
Leadership Qualities and Winning Mentality
Club head coach Guarino praised Hansen’s qualities. “Tuva has been a key player for her previous club and the national team over many years, and I’m sure she will be a real asset for this group. She will bring leadership qualities, versatility and game management both in and out of possession.”
This is smart recruitment from West Ham, who sit second bottom of the WSL table with just five points from 13 matches. Adding a player with Hansen’s pedigree and experience could be crucial to their survival hopes.
Three Bundesliga Titles Before WSL Switch
Hansen moved to Bayern Munich in January 2023 after claiming two Toppserien league titles in Norway with SK Brann. She has been a key part of Bayern’s dominance in Germany over the past three years, winning the Bundesliga in each of her seasons at the club.
“The WSL has grown a lot over the last couple of years so I’m excited by the challenge and to test myself against the best teams in the world,” Hansen said. Neither the length of the deal nor any transfer fee were announced, but this signing represents a major coup for West Ham in their fight for survival.
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