• Champions League

Bertrand starts Champions League final for Chelsea

ESPN staff
May 19, 2012
Roberto Di Matteo has named a surprise Chelsea XI © PA Photos
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Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has sprung a major shock by naming young defender Ryan Bertrand in his starting XI for the Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

Bertrand, 22, has yet to make his debut in the competition but will start on the left side of Chelsea's midfield to provide more cover on the flanks with the threats of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben.

Earlier, Di Matteo said he was "very hopeful" that Gary Cahill and David Luiz would be fit, and that has proved the case with both men named in Chelsea's central defensive partnership.

John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic are both ruled out of the match through suspension, and Cahill and Luiz have not featured in recent weeks due to injury. Chelsea are also without Raul Meireles and Ramires through suspension, but Florent Malouda has won his race to recover from a hamstring problem.

Didier Drogba is named up front for the Blues, meaning Fernando Torres starts on the bench.

Chelsea: Cech; Bosingwa, Cahill, Luiz, Cole; Lampard, Mikel; Kalou, Mata, Bertrand; Drogba

Bayern Munich: Neuer; Boateng, Tymoschchuk, Lahm, Contento; Ribery, Robben, Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Muller; Gomez

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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