After finishing the domestic campaign to varying degrees of success, Manchester City and Chelsea battle it out in Portugal in a bid for Champions League immortality in this third-ever all-English final.
Champions League 2020/2021
Date: 29/05/2021
Kickoff: 20:00
Venue: Estadio do Dragao
Despite reigning supreme over other sides domestically, Pep Guardiola had come under much scrutiny after failing to reach the final of this competition with Bayern Munich, and then failing to progress past the quarter finals with Manchester City prior to this season.
He’ll be looking to prove his doubters wrong as he bids to win the trophy for the very third time as a manager. When the City project kicked off in 2008, this was the end goal — become the best team in Europe — and they’re now one game away from achieving it.
They capped off a fantastic domestic season by defeating Everton at home 5-0 and lifting the Premier League trophy in front of their fans and will now be looking to add a Champions League trophy to their cabinet. Yet, Guardiola’s men have looked unstoppable in this competition from the get go, with 11 wins from 12 Champions League games this term, a stat which shows incredible form in the tourney, and one which has them hunting Real Madrid’s 2001/02 record of 12 wins in a single campaign.
On the other hand, Thomas Tuchel will have a taste of the Champions League final for the second time in less than a year. After guiding Paris Saint Germain to last season’s pandemic-delayed final only to taste defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich, he will be hoping for a different outcome the second time as he searches for his first trophy as Chelsea manager.
Chelsea are appearing in their third Champions League final in their history and their second against an English side. Last time they faced an English side was in 2008 where they lost to Manchester United on penalties after a 1-1 draw. That same season, they lost the EFL Cup to Tottenham and having already lost a domestic cup final this season. Thus,the Blues will be hoping lightening does not strike twice.
Having overcome Manchester City twice in two different competitions over the past six weeks, Tuchel and Chelsea are looking to make it three in three when they face off in the 66th showpiece final of Europe’s premier club competition come Saturday.
Team news
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola is set to have the luxury of his entire squad to select from for the final.
Chelsea
Eduoard Mendy had to be taken off at half time in Chelsea’s defeat against Aston Villa. Tuchel has confirmed that he should be fit in time for the final. N’golo Kante should also be fit enough for a starting role here.
Team form
Manchester City’s last five CL games: WWWWW
Chelsea’s last five CL games: WWLDW
Match stats
Manchester City have scored exactly two goals in all their Champions League knockout games this season and are yet to lose a game in the Champions League this season (W13 D1).
Chelsea have seen under 2.5 goals in all their knockout games in this season’s Champions League
Betting tips
Whenever these two sides clash, there’s always fireworks and that should be no different on Saturday. Both sides want to win, both sides need to go for it.
For Chelsea, after tasting defeat a few weeks ago in the FA Cup final, this presents a chance for them to right their wrongs and win silverware. For Manchester City , this is an opportunity for them to add a European trophy to their rapidly increasing trophy cabinet. This is going to be an all out tactical affair but both managers will go for it, which means there will be goals. At 5/4, over 2.5 goals is the way to go.
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