Player-by-player comparison of two Champions League favourites.
With Chelsea and Bayern Munich perhaps only rivalled by Real Madrid as looking like the best teams in Europe this season, here’s a look at how the leaders of the Premier League and the Bundesliga match up, player by player…
SEE ALSO:
Khedira Chelsea – verbal agreement reached
Sterling Chelsea – Blues eye £48m Liverpool raid
Top 50 best footballers in the world 2014/15
GK: Thibaut Courtois vs Manuel Neuer
Two fantastic goalkeepers, and while this is no insult to Chelsea’s number one, it has to be Bayern Munich’s Neuer who is head and shoulders above everyone else in the world at the moment.
Vote: Neuer
Chelsea news
RB: Branislav Ivanovic vs Rafinha
A slightly more favourable comparison in Chelsea’s favour, with the superb Branislav Ivanovic certainly a more accomplished player than Bayern’s Brazilian.
Vote: Ivanovic
Two superb left-backs, but Bayern’s outstanding youngster Bernat is perhaps a more natural player for this position, offering both great defensive and attacking work for the team.
Vote: Bernat
Two excellent central defenders who are vitally important for their club, but there’s no doubt the Bayern Munich man is the player at his peak right now.
Vote: Boateng
Again, two excellent players at their best, but Chelsea’s Gary Cahill perhaps gets the nod on current form, with the impressive Moroccan centre-back not quite finding his best form for his new club so far.
Vote: Cahill
A close call once again for defensive midfield, but Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm is surely one of the very best in the world in this position right now, despite Matic’s superb form for Chelsea.
Vote: Lahm
Two similarly creative players from deep, Cesc Fabregas gets in ahead of his fellow Spaniard purely based on his immense end product with assists this season.
Vote: Fabregas
AMR: Willian v Arjen Robben
No contest here, as good a player as Willian is, he is no match for Arjen Robben’s incredible pace, skill, trickery and eye for goal from the right-hand side.
Vote: Robben
AML: Eden Hazard v Mario Gotze
An extremely close call, but it’s hard to ignore that Bayern’s Mario Gotze is starting to really show the immense potential seen in him as a youngster, with slightly better stats than Hazard this season as the Belgian looks a little slow to get going.
Vote: Gotze
AMC: Oscar v Thomas Muller
Slightly different players in what they offer in this role, but it has to be said that Bayern star Thomas Muller is the man for the big occasion and a reliable goalscorer from deep.
Vote: Muller
FC: Diego Costa v Robert Lewandowski
Two of the world’s best strikers, but Diego Costa gets the nod at the moment after his superb run in front of goal has fired Chelsea to the top of the Premier League, while Robert Lewandowski has not quite hit top form at the Allianz Arena so far.
Vote: Costa
