Champions League Final 2012: Players Most Vital to Their Team's Success

Chelsea and Bayern Munich will wage war in Allianz Arena today for the right to call themselves champions of the UEFA Champions League this year.

Both sides are plagued with suspensions (six players total), making lineups more interesting and weaker defenses for both sides. As a result, certain players will be extremely important to their respective teams' success.

Players must step up in the absence of their teammates.

These players must play at top of their game if their respective squads want to claim victory.

Petr Cech

Cech is going to feel the losses of John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic the most.

Cech will need to stand on his head for periods of today's game if Chelsea hopes to win. He is a world-class keeper, fully capable of handling thes immense pressure. Further, he knows what it takes to perform in the UEFA Champions League, winning three career Best Goalkeeper awards in his UEFA career.

Bayern Munich's attack is extremely dangerous and versatile. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos command the middle of the field and complement each other perfectly.

Cech needs to be aware of the entire defensive situation and be aware of Schweinsteiger's creativity. It will be Cech's job to make sure Gary Cahill and David Luiz maintain solid position in place of John Terry.

Leadership, organization and big saves will all be needed from Cech in order for a Blues victory to come to fruition.

Bastian Schweinsteiger

Schweinsteiger may be the world's best central midfielder. He dominates the middle of the field and controls both ends of the pitch.

Schweinsteiger's creativity and skill opens up the entire Bayern Munich attack. He commands a ton of attention and puts stress on every member of a defense.

He plays solid defense despite being an offensive-minded player. His ability to match up with Frank Lampard will play a major role in a Bayern Munich victory.

If Schweinsteiger can outmatch Lampard in the middle of the field, Munich will hold a big advantage. Neutralizing Lampard will negate Chelsea's attack and allow Schweinsteiger to create on the offensive end.

Jose Bosingwa

Bosingwa faces an extremely tall task in the UEFA Champions League final: he must keep Franck Ribery out of the 18-yard box and keep Ribery from creating.

Ribery is a wizard with the ball at his feet. He always seems to know where his teammates are and has devastating scoring ability from close range.

Bosingwa must make sure Ribery does not take this game over.

Ribery's aggressive style is the best way to attack Bosingwa. Bosingwa is a capable ball-handler but he struggles when aggressive players challenge him.

Bosingwa does not like players running at him, testing him physically and forcing him to make a play. This could create a major problem with Ribery running at him throughout the game.

Ribery is good enough to win a game by himself. Bosingwa must make sure that doesn't happen.

Phillip Lahm

Lahm must be Bayern Munich's leader on defense. Lampard, Didier Drogba and Mata will test the Bayern Munich throughout the game.

Lahm must make sure they maintain form and shape, focus and organization against the Chelsea attack.

Bayern Munich will be without Holger Badstuber and David Alaba in this matchup.

Badstuber is one of their most solid defenders and Alaba is possibly the best Bayern Munich has to offer. Lahm will feel more pressure with their absence.

Lahm will be charged with keeping Chelsea out of their end, and making sure the damage is minimal when they are on the attack. He has 203 career appearances with Bayern Munich and his experience will be valuable.

Lahm is captain for Bayern Munich and the German national team. He knows what it takes to win big games and has faced adversity before.

His performance will be very important to a Bayern Munich victory.