Nerveless Neuer sets up Munich final party

It was meant to be Barcelona against Real Madrid in a dream Champions League final on May 19 but instead 2012 has become the year of the brave as Bayern Munich, just 24 hours after Chelsea had recorded a remarkable victory in the Nou Camp, went to Real and beat them on penalties.

Perhaps in Germany they will say it was fate; the final is after all being staged in Munich. But for all the romantics who pencilled in the date as the ultimate El Clasico, it has come as something of a shock.

The bare facts are that Bayern won it with typical German resolve in a shoot-out that Jose Mourinho’s Real fluffed in front of their own fans.