Jose Mourinho’s Inter claimed the Serie A title last weekend while they defeated AS Roma in the Coppa Italia final earlier in the month.
Louis van Gaal’s Bayern meanwhile claimed the German Bundesliga crown a fortnight ago, while they also claimed the DFB Pokal title with victory over Werder Bremen last weekend.
They will both be looking to round out incredible campaigns with a third piece of silverware. Whoever the victor will be have accomplished a remarkable season.
Indeed, there’s a lot of glory at stake on Saturday in Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu.
The key players could be two Dutch midfielders who called Madrid home last season, with Inter’s Wesley Sneijder and Bayern’s Arjen Robben. Both have enjoyed brilliant seasons following their summer move from Real.
Van Gaal’s attacking system will promote Robben’s adventures forward and with a 4-4-2 formation, the Germans will be a threat for Inter.
Mourinho is more inclined to play a more negative brand of football, with the lone striker likely to be Diego Milito with support from Samuel Eto’o and Goran Pandev.
Both sides will missing key players with Franck Ribery suspended for Bayern after a yellow card in the semi-final second-leg victory over Olympique Lyon.
Inter are without Brazilian midfielder Thiago Motta who is also suspended after his sending off in Barcelona.
The *Nerazzurri *haven’t won the European title in 45 years, but Mourinho claims he isn’t feeling the strain.
“The Champions League Final is always important to win. I am not thinking about the fact Inter haven’t won it for 45 years. It’s an extraordinarily special event for the Inter fans, because they haven’t won it for so many years,” he said.
“In recent years Inter have won many trophies, but I believe that the game tomorrow, at least in the case of victory, will be really special.”
Ironically, it could also be Mourinho final game in charge of Inter with increasing speculation linking him with the top job at the Bernabeu with Manuel Pellegrini’s departure from Madrid looking more likely.
On the other hand, Van Gaal, who was on the verge of the sack earlier in the ECL before Bayern won 4-1 at Juventus to sneak into the last 16, remarkably said his side were lucky to be there.
“I don’t think we are among the best teams in Europe. Inter, Chelsea, Barcelona and Manchester United are the best teams around in Europe, not Bayern,” he said. “We are kind of lucky to have made it to the Champions League final.”
Perhaps he’s playing the underdog card. He also said this week: “It’s always possible the lower level club wins, that’s sport.”
It promises to be an interesting contest.