MOSCOW (AP) — Manchester United and Chelsea are making history with the first all-English Champions League finalâand the one with the latest starting time.
Kickoff at Luzhniki Stadium today is 10:45 p.m. (2:45 p.m. EDT), which is 8:45 p.m. for television viewers in Western Europe.
If the game goes to overtime and a shootout, the new champion wonât be crowned until about 1:30 a.m. Trains on the Moscow subway system are running two hours later than usual to accommodate fans.
âWeâve only had two days here so there is no adjustment,â Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard said. âOur body clock is basically ready to deal with that time.â
United has been playing in European soccer for more than a half century but has never kicked off this late.
âEven if we had it at 4 in the morning, thatâs not really going to bother me,â United defender Rio Ferdinand said. âItâs not something that has played on our minds. We will just deal with it.â
By kickoff, 40,000 English fans who traveled to the match should have had plenty of time to down a pintâor perhaps a few. Because most hotel rooms were booked up months ago, many supporters are taking chartered flights, will go to the game and then fly home at breakfast time Thursday.
âWe donât care how late it kicks off, as long as we win,â said Manchester United fan Jimmy Westmancoat, who flew out from England on Monday.


