MATCH INFO
Start date: 29 May
2021 22:00
Location: Porto
Venue: Estadio do
Dragao
Referee: Antonio
Mateu, Spain
Avg. cards: 0.22 5.21
This year's Champions League final will be held in Porto, and Manchester City and Chelsea will be hoping to finish the oddest of seasons with the biggest reward of them all.
After knocking out Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals, Pep Guardiola's side went to the final, while Real Madrid were no match for Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea.
For Saturday's finale event, a passionate 16,500-strong audience will fill the Estadio do Dragao, as Manchester City attempt to win the tournament for the first time, while their opponents attempt to channel the spirits of the 2012 champions.
Team News
Guardiola faces the onerous challenge of picking a fully fit squad for Saturday's final, as Ilkay Gundogan shrugged off a recent scare to proclaim himself fit.
Gundogan likely start alongside Bernardo Silva, who is looking to extend his unbeaten Champions League run to 27 games, while Fernandinho's outstanding performance against PSG could earn him a starting spot over Rodri.
Joao Cancelo was virtually invisible against Everton, and he faces an uphill battle to unseat Oleksandr Zinchenko on the left flank, with Kyle Walker almost certain to start on the right.
Guardiola's tactic of not playing a known number nine in the Champions League continues to pay off, and the City manager has stated that there is no space for feeling, therefore Sergio Aguero may be forced to play as a substitute in his final match for the club.
With Aguero on the bench, Kevin De Bruyne may play as a false nine alongside Foden and Mahrez, with the former likely to become the third-youngest English player to start the Champions League final from the start.
Tuchel does have a few problems to deal with ahead of the final, as first-choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was forced to be removed at halftime against Villa after colliding with the post.
Tuchel is optimistic that Mendy will be able to put on the gloves this weekend, while N'Golo Kante, who missed the last day of the Premier League season due to a thigh injury, is also expected to be fit.
Cesar Azpilicueta's red card at Villa Park has been overturned, though his participation in the final would have been unaffected, and the Spaniard should now assume his proper place in the back three alongside Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger.
After playing a limited role in Real Madrid's previous Champions League victories, a fit Mateo Kovacic will try to demote Jorginho to the bench, and N'Golo Kante should be fit enough to man the engine room.
Mount is unbeatable in front of goal, and Tuchel has two crucial decisions to make in the last third, but Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, both Germans, may be trusted in Porto.
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Zinchenko, Dias, Stones, Walker; Fernandinho, Gundogan, Silva; Mahrez, De Bruyne, Foden
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Mendy;Rudiger, Silva, Azpilicueta; James, Kovacic, Kante, Chilwell;
Mount, Werner; Havertz
HEAD TO HEAD STREAKS
More than 2.5 goals
6/7
Both teams scoring
4/5
Less than 4.5 cards
8/10
Less than 10.5 corners
4/5
Without clean sheet
6
TEAM STREAKS
More than 2.5 goals
4/5
First to score
5/6
First half winner
4/5
Less than 10.5 corners
5/7
Without clean sheet
5
First to concede
4/5
Manchester City form (all competitions):
- W
- W
- L
- W
- L
- W
Chelsea form (all competitions):
- W
- W
- L
- L
- W
- L
