Lampard’s dilemma over Giroud
‘THANkS for winning us that game against our great rivals Tottenham, Olivier. Great stuff. Now go take your seat on the bench.’ Imagine what a kick in the teeth that would be for Giroud, to see his name listed among the substitutes for tonight’s visit of Bayern Munich. The 33-year-old passed his audition against Spurs with flying colours and I don’t think any of us can say he deserves to be dropped after that performance. Giroud made himself a nuisance to Tottenham’s defence on Saturday after Michy Batshuayi failed to deputise for Tammy Abraham against Manchester United before that. It depends on what Frank Lampard prefers. Does he stay true to the established pecking order? If so, he may start Abraham, feeling his mobility and pace might be better suited to hurt Bayern and their high line. This is a big decision which could be the difference between victory in the last 16 and defeat. On Friday night
Bayern, for the first time this season, played a back three against bottom-of-the-table Paderborn. They squeaked a 3-2 win but that epitomises the side sitting top of the Bundesliga. They always believe they can out score you. They have that Bavarian swagger about them, from Manuel Neuer to Robert Lewandowski, and they will not fear Chelsea. I’m sure that 2012 Champions League final defeat, in their own city, still haunts Bayern. This is the first meeting of these two in the competition since then and the Germans will want revenge.
PREDICTION: 2-2