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Chelsea vs Man City: Champions League final match preview

By Gabe Henderson

Chelsea's German head coach Thomas Tuchel (R) celebrates with Chelsea's German defender Antonio Rudiger after the English FA Cup semi-final football match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in north west London on April 17, 2021. - Chelsea won 1-0. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's German head coach Thomas Tuchel (R) celebrates with Chelsea's German defender Antonio Rudiger after the English FA Cup semi-final football match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in north west London on April 17, 2021. - Chelsea won 1-0. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Chelsea and Manchester City have already made their way to Portugal for the UEFA Champions League final that’ll take place on Saturday. The two clubs—despite being amongst the world’s largest—find themselves on club football’s biggest stage very rarely. The Blues haven’t made the final since that historic night in Munich back in 2012. Overall, this is their third time in the contest. Meanwhile, the Citizens are appearing in their first UCL finale.

Despite the two English sides having made just four combined finals, their current managers have experience in the big game. One doesn’t have to look too far back to find Tuchel’s history in the competition. The current Chelsea boss guided Paris Saint-Germain to the final last season, only missing out on the trophy by a scoreline of 1-0 against Bayern Munich. Pep Guardiola, on the other hand, is a two-time Champions League winner as a manager. His Barcelona sides of the late 2000s and early 2010s are amongst the tournament’s all-time greats.

There has been a lot of talk regarding narratives and who wants the victory more, but the truth is, none of that truly matters. Predicting the outcome of this match is a crapshoot, down to something as simple as the winner. Even analysis is rather pointless when it comes to a one-off game.

When looking at other competitions though, it’s obvious the Citizens have the edge. The champions of England are going for a historic treble when they take the pitch on Saturday. Guardiola’s Sky Blues had a chance at the quadruple, but Tuchel and his men ruined that narrative in the FA Cup semifinal. Chelsea, meanwhile, squeaked into next season’s Champions League thanks to a little help from Tottenham. The Blues have lost three of their last four matches in all competitions, a strict contrast to the start of the Tuchel era. Despite the poor form, they have won their last two clashes versus Guardiola’s side.

Where can you view Chelsea’s clash with Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League final?

Date: Saturday, May 29
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. GMT)
Location: Porto, Portugal
Venue: Estadio do Dragao
Referee: Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz (ESP)
TV Info: Paramount+ (USA), BT Sport (UK)
Live Stream: Paramount+ (USA)

There is everything to play for in this one-off bout between two familiar foes. This could be the last chance that respective club legends—like Cesar Azpilicueta and Sergio Aguero—get at European glory in their current colors. It also represents an opportunity for Mason Mount and Phil Foden, two of the game’s budding prospects, to solidify their place amongst football’s elite. Regardless of what happens, England will have itself another Champions League title winner. Will it be Tuchel’s rag-tag bunch of scrappy, young stars or Guardiola’s finely-tuned machine that lifts the trophy at the end of the night from Estadio do Dragao?

Next. Chelsea, Manchester City combined XI: Champions League final edition. dark

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