2020-21 UEFA Champions League Final – Manchester City vs Chelsea Preview & Prediction
MANCHESTER CITY VS CHELSEA FACTS
When does Manchester City vs Chelsea kick off? Saturday 29th May, 2021 – 20:00 (UK) / 21:00 (CET)
Where is Manchester City vs Chelsea being played? Estádio do Dragão, Porto (Portugal)
Where can I get tickets for Manchester City vs Chelsea? 6000 fans from each club are permitted to attend the final. Click here to access the Manchester City ticketing portal and here for Chelsea’s
What TV channel is Manchester City vs Chelsea on in the UK? BT Sport
Where can I stream Manchester City vs Chelsea in the UK? Subscribers can stream the match live on the BT Sport website & app
MANCHESTER CITY VS CHELSEA TEAM NEWS
MANCHESTER CITY
- Manchester City have won ten trophies under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola since the Catalan was appointed ahead of the 2016-17 Premier League season, however, they are yet to win their holy grail. Their owners have made no secret of the Champions League being the trophy they desire the most and they head into their first ever European Cup/Champions League final, the 42nd club to reach it and the third newcomer in successive seasons following Tottenham in 2019 and PSG in 2020, on the back of another trophy-laden campaign.
- Throughout the campaign, City’s success has been built upon their striker-less system with a rotating cast of midfielders filling the gaps within the matches, which has allowed an overload of technically dominant playmakers to consistently retain possession. Phil Foden’s effectiveness in that role has been clear in the Champions League knockout stage with excellent performances both against Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals and Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.
- The form of Riyad Mahrez is likely to be a major factor in the outcome of the match as the Algerian winger comes into the game oozing with the confidence of someone who has scored four in City’s last three Champions League matches.
Predicted line-up (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Stones, Zinchenko; De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Gundogan; Mahrez, Bernardo Silva, Foden
Unavailable:
Questionable:
CHELSEA
- Unlike Manchester City, Chelsea do have experience of a Champions League final. In fact, this is their third appearance in European football’s premier competition and all three seasons in which the Blues have reached this stage, they have done it with a new manager being appointed in mid-season: Avram Grant in 2007-08, Roberto Di Matteo in 2011-12 and now Thomas Tuchel in 2020-21.
- Tuchel, who has become the first manager to manage in back-to-back finals with different clubs following his defeat against Bayern Munich as PSG manager last season, will have a less than straight-forward decision to make for his starting line-up. It is very likely that he will continue to deploy three at the back with wing-backs but the lack of consistency in team selection means it is difficult to know who will start; particularly in the forward positions.
- N’Golo Kante is a doubt ahead of the match but if available, he will be a guaranteed starter, as will Mason Mount in one of the three forward positions. Tuchel will have to decide whether to persist with the misfiring Timo Werner or potentially also go striker-less with Kai Havertz in a more orthodox false-nine. The performance of Christian Pulisic in the semi-final against Real Madrid also gives the American a strong chance of starting.
Predicted line-up (3-4-2-1): Mendy; Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Kante, Chilwell; Pulisic, Werner, Mount
Unavailable:
Questionable: Kante (Injured), Mendy (Injured)
MANCHESTER CITY VS CHELSEA KEY STATS
Manchester City have won each of their last seven UEFA Champions League matches (Manchester City to win)
Manchester City have scored two or more goals in each of their last seven UEFA Champions League matches (Manchester City to score over 1.5 goals)
Riyad Mahrez has scored in each of Manchester City’s last three UEFA Champions League matches (Riyad Mahrez to score at anytime)
Manchester City have kept a total of eight clean sheets in their last 11 UEFA Champions League matches (Manchester City to keep a clean sheet)
Chelsea have lost only one of their 12 UEFA Champions League matches this season (Chelsea/Draw double chance)
Four of the last five competitive matches between Chelsea and Manchester City have seen both teams find the net (Both teams to score)
Chelsea have scored at least one first half goal in nine of their last 11 UEFA Champions League matches (Chelsea to score in the first half)
Chelsea have scored the first goal in nine of their last 11 UEFA Champions League matches (Chelsea to score the first goal)
This is Chelsea's third appearance in the UEFA Champions League final, with both of their previous appearances having been decided by penalties (Game decided after penalties)
MANCHESTER CITY VS CHELSEA PREDICTION
A ten-year gap between finals, only Louis van Gaal and Jupp Heynckes’ 14-year spells outside of the final limelight have been longer, has led to Pep Guardiola’s evolution as a coach whereby City have focused on a more defensively secure approach throughout this Champions League campaign. That may have led to their lowest-scoring season under Pep’s management so far but they have kept eight clean sheets en route to the final having conceded just four goals in 12 matches. Chelsea have been built on a well-drilled structure since Tuchel’s appointment in late-January and their three-at-the-back system hasn’t necessarily been regimented but it is formulaic and perhaps lacks an attacking spark. However, they have maintained a remarkable defensive record whereby they have kept 18 clean sheets in his 28 games in charge and have conceded more than one goal in a game on just one occasion - a 5-2 defeat at home to West Brom. It is therefore likely that given the two defensive records and the tension of the occasion, this game could very well be low-scoring so under 2.5 goals is tempting. Given the fact that Chelsea have got the better of City twice in the last month or so, firstly in the FA Cup semi-final and then in a crucial win at the Etihad as they push for Champions League qualification, backing Tuchel’s men draw no bet or on the handicap over ninety minutes also offers good value.
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