Sports
Tension Grips As Chelsea Face City In UCL Final
By Ekene Dike
A 50003 capacity Estadio De Dragao in Portugal will host the 66th Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea. Pep Guardiola’s City are aiming to become the 23rd different club to win Europe’s premier club competition and Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea are on a mission to become the 13th multi-time champions, it promises to be a tense affair.
A Tense All-English Affair Awaits Us
City have lost two games and won two in their last four which looks worrisome, however, they wrapped up the Premier League title nearly three weeks ago and they have won eleven Champions league games this campaign which shows their sparkling form. They can equal Real Madrid’s 2000/2001 record of 12 wins in a single campaign.
Be that as it may, City have been downed twice by Chelsea this season. One of those was a 1-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat and the second in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium on a day that City would have won the title. Chelsea’s previous two Champions League finals have been decided on penalties in which they won one and lost one, considering their overall penalty shootout record in UEFA competitions where they have won twice and lost on four occasions, they will want to avoid a shootout.
Looking on the brighter side, the defence of the Blues are yet to concede more than two goals in a Champions League match so far and the same applies to Manchester City.
With Chelsea having their noses in front at halftime in seven of their eight Champions League wins this season, a dream start to the final will not come as a surprise. The team that has scored first have lifted the trophy in six consecutive Champions League finals and twelve times in the last fourteen.
Players To Watch
Manchester City: Kevin De Bruyne who is known as every striker’s dream has been City’s first goal scorer in their previous four Champions League games and can guide them to being crowned as continental champions for the very first time in their storied history.
Chelsea: Timo Werner who found the back of the net in Chelsea’s last outing still remains the most perilous player for the Blues having had fifteen competitive goals disallowed which is more than the twelve goals he has registered.
Predicted lineups
Chelsea: Mendy, Thiago Silva, Ruediger, Azpilicueta, Reece James, Chilwell, Kante, Jorginho, Mount, Pulisic, Werner
Manchester City: Ederson, Zinchenko, Dias, Stones, Walker, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Bernado Silva, Foden, Mahrez, De Bruyne
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