Michael Ballack believes Bayern Munich have an "emotional advantage" over Chelsea and has made them favourites to win the UEFA Champions League final later this month.

The showpiece match will be played at the German side's home ground, the Allianz Arena, on 19 May and 35-year-old Ballack, who left Bayern to join Chelsea in 2006, recognises that is a difficult obstacle to surmount for the Londoners.

He told German newspaper Bild: "I think Barcelona would have been the only team capable of contesting a final abroad and winning it.

"It is a huge advantage when you are at home in a final, where a lot of emotions play a role. This is an emotional advantage that Chelsea cannot compensate for." Ballack insists, though, that he is entirely neutral, adding: "I have my fingers crossed for both sides."