If you told us last week that Bayern Munich would have won yesterday’s Champions League match against Barcelona, we would have probably giggled and said, “I guess?” Well, looks like we’re not laughing now, the scoreline of 4-0 was proof that Barcelona might need some work. And hey, that was Messi playing at 75% so things could change but it’s going to be a climb for the Spanish team.

Now, I know you’re thinking, “Wait, that headline says Bayern Munich? Does this mean everyone??” Originally that was the idea but Mario Gomez alone would make this a cause for a double post (which is not a bad thing but maybe Mario will get his own week). So please sit back and enjoy the post…we bring you the goal scorers of yesterday’s match:

Here we have Jerome Boateng, Manuel Neur, David Alaba and destined for greatness Thomas Müller all smiles after their win.

Thomas Müller might have a sweet smile but he was definitely the one to watch with his two goals and one assist against Barcelona.

 Yup, that would be one of the two goals from Müller.

 I think he might just have stolen my heart (and maybe yours as well).

Of course, Thomas wasn’t the only one to get goals…no! We had Arjen Robben get one in.

Arjen must be German for “pucker up” because the 29 year old forward is giving his best kiss face here.

Let’s play a game I like to call “imagine him with less.” Trista knows this game since I constantly bring it up when a player wears underarmor without thinking of us. I know, it’s rude…Arjen, please…think of us next time! Cool?

Yes, I know I forgot to give a warning but this is Mario Gomez and if you weren’t prepared before – well, you should have been. I did say he scored a goal…oh I didn’t…well, now you know and I’m totally not sorry for any shocked gasps and stares from your co-workers.

 This German born demigod is single, ladies. I believe that means we should all be purchasing airfare to Germany for the summer.

Still not sorry…oh Mario…I’m so happy you are allergic to shirts, kits and anything that covers your perfect torso.

I’m well aware we said nothing intelligent but now you all know how I felt when I was researching Bayern Munich and by research, I mean looking at photos of Mario Gomez for the last 24 hours all the while fighting a cold (which I have blamed on Trista and while we don’t even live close to one another…we did record a podcast last week so it was totally transmitted over the computer).

I will leave you this week with this wonderful gif courtesy of the always awesome KickTV!

Be sure to check back every Wednesday for a new Midweek Muscles post! Follow the writers of Aerys Soccer on Twitter at @AerysSoccer and like our page on Facebook!

Another round of Champions League matches took place today and the two things most people were talking about were Barcelona’s Carlos Puyol’s horrific injury and Bayern Munich’s surprising loss to BATE Borisov; I know many of you just said “Who’s that??”

So what happened today in Champions League? In Group E, Chelsea had a convincing 4-0 win over  FC Nordsjaelland. David Luiz scored along with Juan Mata (2) and Ramires. In the other match, Juventus and Shakhtar Donetsk played in a 1-1 draw.

In Group F, Valencia won 2-0 over Lille, but it was the Bayern-BATE match that got more attention. After all, most people had never heard of BATE, yet here they were beating Bayern 3-1 despite only having 34% possession.  They are currently at the top of their group with 6 points. Valencia and Bayern are in second place with 3 points each.

Group G, Celtic won their match 3-2 and Barcelona won 2-0 over Benfica. However, despite getting the 3 points, Barcelona players and fans aren’t very happy with today’s match. After all, Sergio Busquets was sent off with a straight red card, which most people said was given unfairly, and Puyol fell awkwardly on his arm and is ruled off for the upcomin Clasico against their rivals Real Madrid.

Group H, both Manchester United and Braga won their respective matches. United defeated Cluj 2-1 and Braga defeated Galatasaray 2-0.

Here’s today’s Champions League goal of the day. It comes from Chelsea defender, David Luiz. Enjoy!

This week’s Midweek Muscles choice is Lukas Podolski, a 27-year-old German National player with 103 caps under his belt. Over the summer, the left-footed striker transferred from the Bundesliga to the English Premier League and now plays for Arsenal.

Lukas, who was born in Poland, grew up in Germany and has dual citizenship.   He began his football career at the tender age of six and joined F.C. Köln (Cologne) when he was ten.  He has been a goal-scoring force from the get go.

In 2003, he was pulled from Köln’s youth side when the team was in jeopardy of relegation.  That year, Podolski scored ten goals in his first 19 senior appearances, the best tally by an 18 year old in the history of the Bundesliga.

Lukas moved to Bayern Munich for three years with mixed success…

Fancy footwork with Bayern Munich

…only to move back to his former club F.C. Köln until this past summer.

Podolski is seen here playing for F.C. Koln

Arsenal scored big when they signed Lukas for an undisclosed amount.  He is such a hit with the fans, the British have carried over the song they sing for him in Germany.  Lu-Lu-Lu-Lu Lukas Podolski.  It’s very catchy… you’ll have to trust me on that one (or tune into an Arsenal match).

Besides scoring three goals in his first six appearances for Arsenal, you can imagine some other reasons to adore the new hunky acquisition.

Podolski holds up the jersey of fellow German, Per Mertesacker, who also plays for Arsenal.  Lukas is really number nine.

 It just wouldn’t be Midweek Muscles without some skin shots of our sexy lefty, who also moonlights as an underwear model for Adidas.

But this baby face isn’t all about brooding.  There is plenty of fun to go around when you’re around Lukas.

Lukas celebrates Oktoberfest in traditional German attire with his wife Monica.  I know ladies, wipe your eyes; this man is taken.

Sporting wig and costume, Lukas gets into the spirit of the German festival parade he’s in.

Holding his son Louis

On a safari in Africa.

Lukas and Emmanuel Frimpong clowning around during a photo shoot for Arsenal gear.

Thumbs up at Bayern

Thumbs up for the German National Team

Thumbs up at the beautiful Emirates Stadium in North London.

Training with fellow Arsenal teammates Per Mertesacker and Olivier Giroud.

A thumbs up for F.C. Köln

Those eyes, lips and that jawline are unmistakably sexy

Smoldering and sophisticated.

A sideways thumb…. just to keep you on your toes.

Kissing his now four year old son Louis after a match.

This season, Lukas opened his account as a Gunner on September 2nd when he scored the first goal in an Arsenal upset over Liverpool 2-0.

 I hope you’ve enjoyed our Mid-Week Muscles footballer focus on Lukas Podolski. He’s packed with talent and I’m sure he has only just begun to hit his stride for Arsenal this year.

I’ll leave you with this one last pic – the t-shirt and the look says it all…..

Monday marks the start of a new week for footy! And we’ve got all the headlines you need.  Check out your Monday Daily Kick Around!

La Liga

After weeks of speculation, the Croatian and former Tottenham Hotspur Luka Modric has signed a 5-year deal with the reigning Spanish champions, Real Madrid after a pending medical exam. How can the 26-year old fit in with Madrid? Being one of the most creative players in the Premier League, Modric is sure to bring creativity in the midfield while being a key player in assisting goals. He’ll be a positive influence on on the midfield which seems to lack in confidence from time to time.

“I chose Madrid because they are the best club in the world. They’ve won so many things, so many titles. It’s amazing for me to be here.”

Bienvenidos a Madrid Luka!

FC Barcelona captain Carles Puyol suffered a fractured right cheekbone in their match against Osasuna Sunday after a collision with Roland Lamah. Puyol is currently undergoing tests today and nothing has been confirmed if he’ll be playing in the second leg of Supercopa de Espana on Wednesday.

English Premier League

Things could be looking up for Chelsea FC after the signing of Eden Hazard this summer. On Saturday the Blues defeated Newcastle 2-nil after a goal by Hazard and Fernando Torres, who had one of the worst goal-scoring droughts last season. Alan Pardew, manager of Newcastle, said that Hazard could lead the Blues to a title this year.

“You can see why so many top clubs were chasing Hazard and he has certainly given Chelsea an extra dimension in the first few games of this season.”

Pardew also praised Torres:

“That was as good as I have seen Torres play in some time and I have seen a lot of him. He looks to have a little something back in his game and looked dangerous playing Hazard. It is still the old Chelsea in many ways, but Hazard and Torres are giving them a little extra up front and they will have a good season.”

Bundesliga

Bayern target Javi Martinez is still training with Athletic Bilbao despite reports he was to fly out to Munich today. The 23-year old has been linked with various clubs this summer yet Bayern are keen on signing him.

Happy Wednesday everyone! Now as you sit waiting the long, dreadful wait for the Men’s Olympic final between Mexico and Brazil Saturday or the epic clash for gold against the USWNT and Japan tomorrow, today is filled with more transfer rumors and new signings. So sit back, relax and enjoy today’s DKA!

La Liga

Fernando Llorente reportedly told his club, Athletic Bilbao, that he wants to leave to play Champions League football. So far Serie A club Juventus wants to make a  €20 million offer for the man known as El Rey Léon (The Lion King.) Llorente still has 12 months left on his contract and refuses to sign an extension according to Basque TV station ETB. Llorente is a World Cup winner but only scored 30 goals last season which happened to be his poorest season in terms of fitness having lost both the Europa and Copa del Rey finals and failing to play with Spain in the Euro final this year.

Looks like Llorente’s teammate Javi Martinez also wants out of Bilbao – he’s looking to move to Bayern Munich. According to the 23-year-old’s agent, Bayern are still interested in signing the midfielder but admits the transfer fee is holding them back.

Joselu, the promising striker built from Real Madrid Castilla, has signed a contract until the summer of 2016 with Bundesliga’s Hoffenheim. The 22 year-old scored 26 goals last season helping the club get promoted to the Segunda Division.

English Premier League

Welcome to Emirates Santi!! That’s right Gooners, Arsenal signed Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla from Málaga for  £15 million!! Cazorla helped his former club reach the 4th spot in the La Liga standings and will be making his Arsenal debut on Sunday in a friendly against Cologne. Santi will join the newest Gunner signings, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.

Serie A

Villarreal’s Cristian Zapata will be spending the 2012-2013 campaign at San Siro. The former Udinese defender had a medical finished on Tuesday in Milan and will sign his one-year loan with AC Milan later today.  After the one-year loan the deal will become permanent at the end of the season.

Most people probably know David Luiz as a joker. Actually, most people know him for his hair, which leads to many people calling him “Sideshow Bob”, the character from the Simpsons.

Do you see a resemblence?

Personally, I love his curls, It’s one of the reasons i chose him for Midweek Muscles. The other reason, besides him being a good defender, is that he’s hilarious, as I mentioned earlier, Luiz is known for being a joker. Here’s a video of him  playing a prank on an unsuspecting victim.

David Luiz playing a Prank

Like I said, he’s a good defender. His club, Chelsea FC, had a great season. They not only won the FA Cup, but managed to win the Champions League. Along they way, they beat clubs like Napoli (they came back after losing 3-1 in the first leg), FC Barcelona, and Bayern Munich. No one thought they could do it, but they proved them wrong. David Luiz was the player who got Chelsea back in the game, when he scored a very well taken penalty in the Champions League final, which  had gone to a penalty shootout.

He’s also part of the Brazilian NT, one of the  most respected national teams in football.

Here he is as a young boy.

Enjoy the rest of the pics.

You can follow him on twitter @DavidLuiz_4

Double facepalm for Bayern Munich in the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final. Screencap via Timothy Burke at 30fps.mockession.com

Could it have ended any other way?

Chelsea’s dramatic comeback season was capped Saturday with a dramatic comeback win against heavy favorites Bayern Munich, who were playing on their home turf, in the UEFA Champions League Final. Didier Drogba was the hero of the match, scoring the equalizer in the 89th minute to send the match to extra time, and then putting away the fifth and final penalty kick for Chelsea, to win 4-2 in penalties (1-1 FT).

For Munich, it was a story of missed opportunities coming back to haunt them. They out-shot Chelsea 43-9 (FORTY THREE TO NINE?!), including 20 corner kicks, and dominated time of possession 56%-44%. After a back and forth start to the match, Munich began exacting their dominance midway through the first half, pouring pressure on Chelsea in the penalty area. They simply couldn’t do anything with those chances, however.

Credit the Chelsea defense, and in particular Ashley Cole, who seemed to get a leg or a head on nearly everything that had a chance. At times, it almost seemed as if Chelsea had divine intervention on their side. Keeper Petr Cech knocked away a Robben strike with his leg in the 20th minute, only to have it go off the corner of the post and out. Point blank chances in front of goal seemed to freeze Mario Gomez and Thomas Müller, who were unable to put the right touch on anything to get out in front of the visitors.

Just at the end of the first half, Drogba gave Chelsea their first real opportunity of the match, with a hard strike right at the near post but it was just knocked out by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Despite an inability to maintain any kind of possession through the midfield, and not taking advantage of their few chances on Bayern’s end of the field, Chelsea had to feel good about the match being scoreless at the half.

But with the pressure from Bayern building, it was only a matter of time before they put one away. It finally came in the 83rd minute on a cross from Schweinsteiger to Muller, who finally evaded Cole and headed the ball over the goal line and out of Cech’s reach.

Munich and their fans celebrated their presumptive win, with just minutes to play, but Drogba had other ideas. With a minute to go in regulation, Chelsea drew a corner kick – their first of the match – and Drogba delivered a gorgeous header off the cross from Mata, bouncing just off the tip of Neuer’s hands into the top of the net for the equalizer.

And on to extra time we went.

Just minutes into the period, Chelsea’s magic nearly disappeared when Drogba was called for a foul on Ribery in the penalty area. Robben lined up for the kick, threatening to put the home squad ahead by a goal. But Cech guessed correctly on the low strike to the right side, and knocked it away to keep the score equal.

Bayern continued to dominate possession throughout extra time, but their troubles finding anything on target continued, and Chelsea’s back line wouldn’t allow them to break through. And so the drama could end in no other way but with penalty kicks.

Bayern went up 1-0 on the first try from each team, with Juan Mata’s attempt down the middle knocked straight out by Neuer. The next two attempts from each side went in, with strikes by Luis and Lampard for Chelsea into the top of the net giving Neuer no chance, and Munich’s grounders from Gomez and Neuer just out of Cech’s reach. But Bayern’s fourth try from Ivica Olic was slow and predictable to the right, and Cech stopped it with one hand. An Ashley Cole strike into the right corner evened the score up again, and suddenly it was up to Schweinsteiger to keep Munich alive. But a slight hesitancy caused him to take a touch off of the ball, and it went off the right post.

And up stepped Didier Drogba, who completed the comeback by sending Neuer to his left, then the ball the other way, sinking it in for the win.

On March 4, when Chelsea head coach Andre Villas-Boas was fired, the club stated that the team was ”showing no signs of improving at a key time in the season”. Insert interim manager Roberto DiMatteo, who orchestrated a comeback that nobody could have seen coming.

Despite finishing sixth in Premier League play - the first Champions League winner to finish so low in league play - the club went on to edge Liverpool in the FA Cup title, and defeat defending champion Barcelona on a 3-2 aggregate at Camp Nou in Champions League play, en route to the final and a storybook ending.

As champions, Chelsea edged Tottenham out for the fourth Premier League spot in next year’s Champions League.

UEFA Champions League

Today’s clash of European titans, Chelsea FC and Bayern Munich, in the UEFA Champions League Final headlines a huge day in soccer.  ESPN’s Paul Carr previews the match for Five Aside with nuggets of statistical goodness, including the ignominious record Chelsea could hold if they win.

Chelsea captain Frank Lampard is not bothered by Chelsea’s underdog mark in the match:

Lampard, who is aiming to become the first man to captain the Blues to European Cup glory, insisted he was relishing the atmosphere that had resulted from Bayern Munich having home advantage.

“The atmosphere here is amazing,” he said. “We’ve sampled a bit of it from airport to hotel. It gives them an advantage. We can play around with how much so, but playing at home, in your own changing room, the city with your fans – it’s an advantage.

“But to be underdogs gives you a determination. Bring it on. The fact they’re the home team is a great challenge for us.”

The match kicks off at 2:45pm EST on FOX. Not FOX Soccer Channel — actual FOX. Sorry, baseball fans. The world’s most popular sport took over your afternoon today.

 English Premier League

West Ham are back in the EPL after winning the nPower Championship today against Blackpool. Their fans certainly have an… ahem, unique way of celebrating.

Major League Soccer

It’s not only a big day for European soccer — today’s MLS slate includes the L.A. Derby between the Galaxy and Chivas, and the Cascadia Cup between the Seattle and Vancouver. SB Nation previews and predicts today’s matches with just a splash of snark.

Women’s Professional Soccer

It’s all over for WPS. The league announced yesterday that they would be closing shop for good, which is not surprising after the battle between the league and magicJack owner last winter caused the league to suspend operations for 2012. ESPNW’s Beau Dure discusses the future of women’s professional soccer in this country:

The bottom line from all parties: Women’s Professional Soccer is dead; long live professional women’s soccer.

“I don’t believe soccer in the U.S. is done, thanks to the many leagues around the country that are still being held to high standards like the WPSL,” Boston Breakers defender and former U.S. national team player Cat Whitehill said. “I believe we can keep top soccer in this country if everyone from the ownership to the players commits to it 100 percent. I understand there are amazing leagues across the world, but I believe the U.S. will find a way to create a professional environment as long as the commitment is there.

La Liga 

I can’t stop watching this video breakdown of Barcelona’s Tiki Taka style. Mesmerizing to watch.

Keep tuned to @AerysSoccer on Twitter and check back here for Champions League and MLS recaps later today.

Obama pays tribute to MLS Champions LA Galaxy

Today, Aerys Daily Kick Around has some fun post-season news for you footie die-hards.  Do you know what color blue Mario Balotelli be sporting next season? How about Kenny Dalglish leaving Liverpool? Why is Di Matteo so cool as a cucumber after finishing 6th in the league? And what is up with President Obama being impressed with Becks’ underwear?  Get those answers and more to fill your soccer cravings and get you over Hump Day.

English Premier League

Yes, Manchester City are the season’s league champions but are they really going to let Mario Balotelli stay blue? That’s what Roberto Mancini is saying.

May I have your attention please?!  Kenny Dalglish has left the building…. er, I mean club. It was announced today after much speculation and rumors that the club released Dalglish after a pretty bad season in the EPL. The club have also stated the search for a new manager is on, but rumors are linking Roberto Martinez for the spot. It’s a hard time in Liverpool, folks.

Former Arsenal midfielder turned Manchester City player Samir Na$ri has been referred to as a traitor by his Arsenal critics.  After winning the title this year, Nasri sent a clear message saying “I now hope the Arsenal fans can get on with their lives and forget me, they should celebrate their third-place achievement and I will focus on winning titles.” Uh, forget about you Samir?  Hardly. This Gunner fan thinks you just dug your traitorous hole deeper.

Champions League

Roberto Di Matteo has something special up his sleeve in preparation for the Champions League final match this weekend against Bayern Munich.  And should Chelsea prevail, Di Matteo is confident he will be offered a manager position permanently for the Blues.  But if they don’t sign him, surely someone else will.

Major League Soccer

President Obama paid tribute to the LA Galaxy as the MLS Champions by inviting them to the White House.  He acknowledged our own Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane and David Beckham as being instrumental in winning the title.  The President was particularly impressed with Beckham, whom at  the ripe old age of 37, had one of his best seasons in the MLS and managed to have his own line of underwear. I’m impressed too… have  you seen those H&M adverts?

Although the match ended in a 0-0 draw, Portland Timbers’ keeper Troy Perkins  made an amazing six saves over the course of the match while playing Houston Dynamo.

England National Team

According to Roy Hodgeson, the newly named England National Team manager, Rio Ferdinand will be left out of the 2012 Euro squad. Read Sky Sports report for more information.

They did it!! Not sure how they did it, especially with the way they played today.  But Arsenal defeated West Brom away and finished third in the league.  Final score 2 – 3.

This means Arsenal automatically qualify, along with the Manchester duo, for next season’s Champions League.

Tottenham Hotspurs, the other North London contender, won 2 – 0 at home over Fulham.  They finished fourth in the league, the highest they have ever placed in the long history of their team, but still one point and one place below their arch-rivals Arsenal. (add smirk here)

The fourth place Spurs, however, may not automatically qualify for the 2012-13 Champions League.  Chelsea made it to this season’s Champions League final where they will be playing against Bayern Munich.  Winning that tournament, which will be played next weekend, will automatically give Chelsea the league’s fourth place qualifying position, blowing the opportunity for tournament-hopefuls Tottenham.

Back to Arsenal:  To qualify for Europe’s elite tournament was no easy feat for Arsenal this season. The Gunners lost three key players over the summer along with rumor rumblings about other players with one or two years left on their contracts wanting to jump ship.

The team spent 3/4ths of the summer trying to hold on to their star play-making midfielder, Cesc Fabregas, who understandably wanted to return to his home town of Barcelona.  Then the lure of money and trophies took Samir Na$ri and Gael Clichy to Manchester City.

So with three key starting players lost and the summer three quarter shot, Arsene Wenger made some last minute, but key decisions.  Andre Santos and Yossi Benayoun were two of eleven players signed over the summer.  Both made key goals for the Gunners in today’s match.

As we look forward to this summer’s usual antics, let’s see if Arsenal can get Robin van Persie to renew his contract early on.  That key signing combined with  the opportunity to play in Champions League should attract more quality players to the team.

Wenger has to figure out how to re-build the team around the possible introduction of new players but also with returning players from injury.  He should have young Jack Wilshire back in midfield, who has been injured for most of the season.  The right-back Bacary Sagna will hopefully return after his second leg break of the season.  And the promising Emmanuel Frimpong, who got a little experience on loan to Wolves, will perhaps be an option after injuring his knee in the second half of the season.

It’s sad to see the season end, but as a Gunner fan, I’m beyond thrilled with the result .  Plus, I can finally let out the breath I’ve been holding for about 4 weeks now.

Well played Gunners! And what a relief to stay in Champions League and finish higher than last season without Cesc, Samir and Gael.  COYG!