By Terry Baddoo, CNNSI.com

Sometimes a club just seems to have its name on the trophy, and, for my money, the cup to be presented at this year's Champions League final has "Bayern Munich" written all over it.

The Germans have shaken two monkeys off their backs in successive rounds -- beating Manchester United, which stunned them with a comeback victory in the 1999 final, and then defending champion Real Madrid, which knocked them out in the semis on route to last year's title.

Bayern has looked focussed, organized and above all uncompromising.

In Giovane Elber they appear to have a player who's discovered the Midas touch at the perfect time, his six Champions League goals so far having been instrumental in getting Bayern to the final.

Their inspirational skipper, Stefan Effenberg, will be back in the midfield engine room as chief motivator after missing the second leg of the semifinals against Real through suspension.

Those factors, combined with a dogged defense, will ultimately prove too much for Valencia.

Both teams have the momentum of having played big matches week in week out during the last few weeks, of course.

However, Bayern's challenge for the Bundesliga title has been the more successful, and I think that will give them the edge in confidence.

My prediction, therefore, is Bayern for the cup.

By Phil Jones, CNNSI.com

Bayern Munich has eliminated Real Madrid and Manchester United, winning all four games in the bargain. So wouldn't it just be the way for the team that had achieved such tremendous results in reaching the Champions League final to stumble at the last?

I can see it happening. The Germans, conquerors of the two favorites in the quarterfinals and semis, coming seriously unstuck when they themselves take on the favorite's mantle.

Bayern's stoic defense has been extraordinary in the last two rounds. But Valencia can boast great defensive prowess throughout the tournament. They're positively mean-spirited.

Valencia has conceded just nine goals in 18 games in the Champions League this season. Goalkeeper Santiago Canizares and his air-tight defense have kept 10 clean sheets. Only one team, Arsenal, was able to score more than once against them in a single game. That was in a 2-2 quarterfinal, first-leg game at Highbury.

In Gaizka Mendieta, Valencia has a midfield dynamo in so many ways more appealing than Bayern's Jens Jeremies. Mendieta's the Spanish club's ceaseless inspiration. I expect him to shine in Milan and carry his team to the greatest triumph in Valencia's history.

Last year, after a dream run to the final, it all fell a little flat for Valencia. Real Madrid won 3-0 and, with memory I'm sure not serving me quite right, appeared to do so at a canter. Valencia won't be shell-shocked by the occasion this time. It might take extra time and penalties; it's that tough to call. But for me it's V for Victory for Valencia.