Champions League Final – Manchester City vs. Chelsea

Will Manchester City finally win the most prestigious club competition in the world? The Citizens have been looking to win the Champions League ever since Abu Dhabi United Group purchased the club for £210 million in 2008. They have won the Premier League five times since ownership spent billions to make City one of the best teams in the world, but this will be their first appearance in a Champions League Final. Manchester City will face a familiar foe in Chelsea, making this the second all-England Champions League Final in the last three years.

The 2020-21 Champions League Final was originally supposed to be played at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. However, COVID issues led to the final match being moved to Estadio do Dragao in Porto, Portugal. This match will take place on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at 3 p.m. ET.

Champions League Final Betting Odds

Manchester City -0.5 -116

Chelsea +0.5 -104

Over/Under 2 and 2.5

How They Got Here

Manchester City are -225 favorites to lift their first Champions League trophy. They had little trouble claiming the Premier League this season, and City have been dominant in their run to the final. The Citizens allowed just one goal in six Group Stage matches, and they cruised past Borussia Monchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund. That set up a semifinals showdown with Paris Saint-Germain that City won 4-1 on aggregate thanks to a brace from Riyad Mahrez in the second leg.

Chelsea were fortunate to qualify for next year’s Champions League. The Blues lost their season finale and needed Leicester City to lose too in order to hold onto the final Champions League spot. They were considered something of a longshot to win the Champions League, but they have made it to the final for the third time now. Chelsea’s defense was the key to their run, allowing just two goals in six matches with Atletico Madrid, Porto, and Real Madrid in the knockout rounds.

Match Preview

These teams met twice in Premier League play. Manchester City hammered Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in early January with three goals in the first 34 minutes. Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne each notched a goal and an assist, and only an extra time goal from Callum Hudson-Odoi kept the final from being a 3-0 laugher. The Blues knocked off City in the return match a few weeks ago, but Pep Guardiola sat most of City’s starters in that match with the Premier League already locked up.

It’s going to be hard for Chelsea to slow down Manchester City’s attack. Kevin De Bruyne has had an exceptional season, and the Citizens come at you in waves with the plethora of talent on this roster. Riyad Mahrez has had some superb moments, and Raheem Sterling is a consistent finisher. Ilkay Gundogan is often overlooked but has been fantastic, and Phil Foden is a youngster with a bright future ahead of him.

The Blues are built to stifle teams with their midfield. N’Golo Kante and Jorginho are two of the best defensive midfielders in the world. They have shut down opponents’ attacks before they get going often in this tournament, giving them a chance against high-powered Manchester City.

Chelsea boasts some talent of its own on the attack. Mason Mount is an extremely promising talent that should only get better, and Timo Werner is a proven goal scorer. Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech have had their moments, and Christian Pulisic figures to be the first American to feature in a Champions League Final.

Prediction

Although City are deserved favorites, the Blues can knock them off. Chelsea have been superb in defense, and they can do just enough on the attack to pull off the upset.

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