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Football London
Football London
Sport
Oliver Harbord

Frank Lampard reacts to Bayern Munich draw and sends warning to his Chelsea players

Frank Lampard insists his Chelsea team will have to be fully focused throughout their two matches with Bayern Munich if they are to get through in the Champions League.

The Blues will face the Bundesliga champions in the last 16 of the competition after this morning's draw in Nyon, Switzerland.

Of course, for Blues supporters it will spark up the memories of 2012 when Chelsea went to Munich in the final and clinch victory over Bayern.

However, this is a very different Chelsea side, with a young team going through some transition this season.

Oliver Harbord's verdict on Bayern Munich vs Chelsea

With the games in February and March, there is some time between the matches, which will be a good thing for a Blues team struggling with form.

Bayern secured six wins in their group stage games, however have struggled in the Bundesliga as they sit sixth in the table.

But Lampard knows that his team will not be able to slip for one minute or they will be punished by the German champions.

"This level of football, this level of Champions League knockout stage is a level of focus you need, absolute throughout both games," Lampard told Chelsea's website.

"Tiny moments in a game like this can be so crucial. Of course we want to be at our best going into the game, hopefully in good form, but the concentration levels and how we approach it will be maybe the deciding factor.

"Because I think we should be confident that we can beat Bayern Munich but understand that they are very strong.

"[It's] A tough draw, but a good draw. I think that we knew that when you get through the group stages you are generally in with some big teams.

"We are certainly got one. We have history with them, of course, but this will be a tie in itself that will be very testing, over two games. But we’ll be ready for the challenge."

The last time the Blues were in the Allianz Arena, they were walking away with the Champions League trophy in the 2012 final.

Chelsea have played Bayern four times, winning twice and losing the other two times, including on penalties in the Super Cup.

And Lampard is hoping the memory of seven years ago will be able to see the Blues through and inspire a similar result.

"We had some games before the Champions League final, 2005 maybe here at the Bridge," Lampard added.

"I scored two and we put in a really good performance. Obviously the night in Munich is the defining night in my career, all our careers in that era and the fans. A very special night for us and a lovely memory.

"So I am sure the fans who can travel there, who obviously know the game well, can have a nice feeling from that. But it will be very different and very taxing."

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