The stage is now set for another UEFA Champions League final. This term, it is another all-English final where Chelsea will be battling it out against Manchester City.
Unlike the major final games in the past weeks with one Nigerian interest or the other, many fans can stay loyal to their preferred clubs in Saturday’s final billed to take place in Portugal.
This is the first time these two teams will be facing each other in the Champions League, but they have gone head-to-head 48 times in the Premier League with Manchester City winning 14 games, while Chelsea have won 27 matches, with the remaining 7 ending in a draw.
Both Manchester City and Chelsea have all their players available for this Champions League final. No injuries and no suspensions. The managers will have the luxury of selecting their best players for the clash.
The Blues had the better of the Cityzens in their last two encounters – the FA Cup semi-final and the second leg in the Premier League – but some analysts believe that Pep Guardiola did not go with his best players, but the final will decide if that statement is correct or not.
Josep Guardiola has won all three of the UEFA Champions League finals he has been involved in with Barcelona as a player – in 1991/1992 –and coach – in 2008/2009 and 2010/2011 season – but will be leading Manchester City to their first final.
Thomas Tuchel is in his second final, after leading PSG against Bayern Munich last campaign.
This is a tough clash and both teams know what is at stake as Manchester City will want to win their first Champions League title, as Sergio Aguero will want to leave the Etihad in style. On the other hand, Chelsea will want to cap their brilliant turnaround under Thomas Tuchel will a win. This will be a keenly contested encounter.
City and Chelsea had the best two defensive records both in the Premier League — conceding 32 and 36 goals, respectively — and in the group stage of the Champions League — conceding one goal and two goals, respectively. In the knockout stage, the teams conceded only five goals (two by Chelsea, three by City) between them in 12 games.
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