Future Stars - Fabian Frei

Sports Portal apologises for the busy schedule it has faced in recent weeks, and will promise to try and get back to updating on a regular basis.

Back to business for now and a quick preview on Swiss midfielder Fabian Frei, who is no relation to his more well known team mate Alexander Frei.

Despite being a touch older than most others featured at 23 years of age, he has a wealth of experience despite being at a tender age and has matured amongst much sought after players at FC Basel. Team mate Xherdan Shaqiri was being chased by a host of Europe's finest clubs before agreeing to join Bayern Munich this summer, while Granit Xhaka is another that is tipped to reach the very top wherever he ends up after leaving Switzerland.

Frei has come through the ranks at his club; joining in 2004 after stints at other clubs as a youth. After a year progression to the under-21 side followed, where a haul of honours were won before he hit the big time in 2007.

At 17 he made his first team debut, completing a perfect season by winning a League and Cup double. A further year down the line though he was loaned out to St Gallen, before returning and really making his mark.

Frei can now put Champions League experience on his ever expiring CV, including a goal at Old Trafford during an enthralling 3-3 draw. In addition a second Swiss Super League title followed upon his return, making a 15^th League triumph for FC Basel.

On the international front, Frei spent four years in the under-21s which culminated in a European Under-21 Final appearance. Ultimately ending in defeat to a very strong Spain side. Since then a handful of appearances have been made in the senior side.

It is surely a matter of time before we see Frei showing his talents on a much larger scale.

Future Stars - David Alaba

Could this be one of the future gems to add to the Bayern Munich crown.  After hitting headlines as a bright prospect, the hype around the young midfielder seems to have died down a little.  One thing is for certain though, if column inches aren't being dedicated to the 19-year-old now they certainly will be in the future.

After starting his career at SV Aspern, David Alaba quickly caught the eye of Austrian giants Austria Vienna and his bags were packed.  After joining in 2002, progress through the ranks seemed to be rather swift.  After being named amongst the squad for an Bundesliga matched in his native Austria, it wasn't long before Germany's biggest team came knocking and he was transferred for the second time in his young life.

Bayern Munich seemed to be the platform that was required, and after a debut season in 2008/09 spent in the youth system he was promptly elevated into the second string.  It was here that an upward turn was taken, with his half season spent in the reserves proving very fruitful indeed.  Not only was he named in the squad for the Champions League, but on the national front he was beginning to be recognised too.

Following on from his two years in the under-17s, only a handful of games were completed in the under-21s before another promotion was completed.  This time into the senior set up, where he has remained since.  In addition to this, in January of last year it was also announced that Alaba was to train with the first team squad at club level.  Two others were also promoted at the same time, one of which was Diego Contento who has been making huge strides into the first team since.

David Alaba celebrating a goal for FC Bayern

In the next year and a half he would remain on the fringes of the Bayern Munich team, clearly showing signs of promise but not being able to crack into the first eleven on a regular basis.  It was announced before the 2011/12 Bundesliga season commenced that he was to go on loan Hoffenheim, where he has featured much more prominently.

That loan spell however expires shortly after the turn of the new year, and Bayern will be hoping the confidence and experience gained will ensure his transition into a first team regular will be rather swift.  Juup Heynckes could just have one of the next stars of the Allianz Arena on his hands.

Let's get ready to rumble

So, at it's new Saturday evening slot, the battle of the Bernabeu will take place.

Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan V Louis Van Gaal's Bayern Munich, with both sides looking to claim an unprecedented treble.

Both have had troubled times in their respective leagues this season, but have crucially come through to take the ultimate prize.

Domestic cup competitions have also fell the way of this years two premier Champions League teams, meaning this evening could be one of the most exciting European finals for many a year.

You would expect a fully attacking match, although, you could be majorly disappointed.

In this years competition Mourinho has been criticised for sitting on leads, and doing just enough to get over the line.

But never going out to score as many goals as possible, however you couldn't bet against the Portuguese to come up trumps once again.

And if he does so he could soon be bidding a, not so fond, farewell to Italy.

It is not a secret that the Italians and Mourinho don't enjoy the best of relationships, and a treble win could be his legacy in Serie A.

Bayern on the other hand have always gone out to score this season, and as a result have been left short at the back on occasion.

This is exactly the type of thing that will not have gone unnoticed by the Milan side, and if this situation crops up tonight it will be fully exploited.

Wesley Sneijder's passing could unlock most defences, and with men short at the back it wouldn't be hard to pick out the pacey Samuel Eto'o.

Although the German's aren't short of attacking talent themselves, however they will be without main man Franck Ribery who is suspended.

That means Arjen Robben will have to step into the breach and be the creative force for his side, which we have already seen him do this season.

His wonder striker at both Fiorentina and Manchester United rescued his team, whereas Mourinho's side have often looked comfortable.

Even at Stamford Bridge and the Nou Camp where one goal would've knocked them out, they didn't look like conceding (although they come close in the latter, when a goal was disallowed for a dubious hand ball).

One thing is for certain though, someone will win a treble tonight and become a legend at their respective club, and I wouldn't bet against Mourinho adding another chapter to an already amazing story.