Elber: Bayern will edge final on penalties

Former Bayern Munich striker Giovane Elber said his old side will win Saturday’s Champions League final with Chelsea on penalties.

The Brazilian said he expects an even game at the Allianz Arena, and feels that the team that make the fewest mistakes will eventually lift the trophy.

“I don’t think there is a favourite. Chelsea deserve their place in the final. They beat a very strong side in Barcelona, as did Bayern (against Real Madrid), but I think it’s 50-50,” Elber told the official UEFA website.

“The team that make the fewest mistakes will come out on top. However, it’s going to be a very tough match and I think it will be decided on penalties. Germans are always calmer on penalties, so perhaps Bayern will win.”

Elber added he did not expect Bayern to go this far in the Champions League, but is hopeful that they will now go on to win it, and start a new era.

“I wouldn’t have thought so at the start of the season. I looked at the team and thought they looked good in attack but they had several major problems in defence,” he said.

“However, we’ve seen how they’ve pulled together, which is always important, and now they’re in the final. Hopefully they’ll win it and it will prove to be the start of a new era.”