Football: European Cup Final - Figures point to United victory

THERE ARE, admittedly, lies, damned lies and football statistics. Yet if Manchester United supporters are seeking hope from history, an analysis of matches between English and German teams provides some.

True, England's record in competitive internationals against Germany is not auspicious, although the shoot-out exits from Italia 90 and Euro 96 overshadow the fact that the last four meetings ended in draws. In club competitions, however, the English have the edge. Their record includes five wins in seven finals between the countries but, against that, the Germans have won twice as many of the matches since English clubs were readmitted to Europe.

Meanwhile, if it comes to penalties, stirring unhappy memories of Messrs Pearce, Waddle and Southgate, there is no pre-ordained rule stating that Bayern Munich must prevail. In the only Anglo-German tie settled by spot- kicks, in 1970, Everton beat Borussia Monchengladbach.

THE FULL STORY

ENGLISH CLUBS' RECORD V GERMAN CLUBS* IN EUROPE

1955-1985

P82 W35 D21 L26 F131 A99

(English clubs banned from European competition 1985-1990 following Heysel stadium disaster)

1990-1999

P16 W4 D4 L8 F22 A30

TOTAL

P98 W39 D25 L34 F153 A129

*Does not include clubs from the former East Germany

ENGLAND'S RECORD AGAINST GERMANY* IN INTERNATIONALS

P22 W9 D5 L8 F38 A29

*Includes matches against West Germany before reunification

ANGLO-GERMAN CLUB FINALS

CUP-WINNERS' CUP FINAL 1965

TSV Munich 1860 0 West Ham Ud 2 (Wembley)

CUP-WINNERS' CUP FINAL 1966

Borussia Dortmund 2 Liverpool 1 (Glasgow)

UEFA CUP FINAL 1973

Liverpool 3 Borusssia Monchengladbach 2 (agg after two legs, home and away)

EUROPEAN CUP FINAL 1975

Bayern Munich 2 Leeds Utd 0 (Paris)

EUROPEAN CUP FINAL 1977

Borussia Monchengladbach 1 Liverpool 3 (Rome)

EUROPEAN CUP FINAL 1982

Aston Villa 1 Bayern Munich 0 (Rotterdam)

CUP-WINNERS' CUP FINAL 1996

Chelsea 1 VfB Stuttgart 0 (Stockholm)

BAYERN AGAINST ENGLISH CLUBS

1970-71 UEFA CUP: Bayern 6 Coventry 1; Coventry 2 Bayern 1.

1970-71 UEFA CUP: Liverpool 3 Bayern 0; Bayern 1 Liverpool 1.

1971-72 CUP-WINNERS' CUP: Liverpool 0 Bayern 0; Bayern 3 Liverpool 1.

1974-75 EUROPEAN CUP Final: Bayern 2 Leeds Utd 0.

1980-81 EUROPEAN CUP Semi-final: Liverpool 0 Bayern 0; Bayern 1 Liverpool 1 (Liverpool won on away goals).

1981-82 EUROPEAN CUP Final: Aston Villa 1 Bayern 0.

1982-83 CUP-WINNERS' CUP: Tottenham 1 Bayern 1; Bayern 4 Tottenham 1.

1983-84 UEFA CUP: Bayern 1 Tottenham 0; Tottenham 2 Bayern 0.

1984-85 CUP-WINNERS' CUP Semi-final: Bayern 0 Everton 0; Everton 3 Bayern 1.

1993-94 UEFA CUP: Bayern 1 Norwich 2; Norwich 1 Bayern 1.

1995-96 UEFA CUP: Bayern 2 Nottingham Forest 1; Forest 1 Bayern 5.

1998-99 CHAMPIONS' LEAGUE: Bayern 2 Manchester Utd 2; Manchester Utd 1 Bayern 1.

BAYERN'S OVERALL RECORD AGAINST ENGLISH CLUBS

P22 W7 D9 L6 F31 A25