David Luiz gearing up for Mario Gomez test on his PlayStation

Chelsea defender Luiz was infamously accused by television pundit and new England coach Gary Neville of performing like he was being controlled by “a 10-year-old on a PlayStation” during a game earlier this season. But the Brazil player has been at the controls ahead of the biggest match of his life against Bayern Munich and their star striker Gomez. Asked if he had ever faced the Germany forward before, Luiz said: “Just on the PlayStation!”

Luiz will be hoping his football simulator proves an accurate gauge of what to expect this weekend, having had no opportunity to practise defensive drills since injuring his hamstring a month ago. After returning to full training yesterday, he and centre-back partner Gary Cahill faced four days of cramming to get themselves ready for arguably the most daunting challenge they have ever faced.

Gomez has scored 12 Champions League goals in 10 starts this season, 11 at the Allianz Arena, where Saturday’s final will be played. Luiz said: “In the Champions League final, it is always difficult. The other team are very good and they deserve to play in the final with Chelsea. It is the best game in the world and is being played in Munich. That makes it more difficult.”

Providing Luiz and Cahill do not suffer any adverse reaction before the weekend, they will be asked to fill the void left by suspended duo John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic.

Luiz said of Chelsea’s banned stars: “For sure, they are important players – Ivanovic, John, Ramires, and [Raul] Meireles. But my team-mates are very good players.”

Luiz was just relieved to be in contention to play himself, adding: “This is the best game in the world for big teams and I am so happy to play this final. All the players in the world want to play this game, and me too. I want to play, I’m counting the days and the minutes. I hope to finish the game with the Champions League.”

Meanwhile, Bayern have been given the go-ahead by Uefa to use their home changing room at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern, aiming to become the first team of the host city to win a Champions League final on home soil, are officially playing a neutral match. A club official, however, said Bayern would be using their usual changing room instead of the other two neutral ones available. “That is correct,” he said. Bayern were allocated the same number of tickets (17,500) as their opponents and are named as the home team for marketing and logistical purposes as the host city is decided years before that year’s competition.