THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL 2021

LINEUPS

CHELSEA: MENDY, AZPILICUETA, SILVA, RÜDIGER, JAMES, KANTÉ, JORGINHO, CHILWELL, HAVERTZ, MOUNT, WERNER

MANCHESTER CITY: EDERSON, WALKER, STONES, DIAS, ZINCHENKO, SILVA, GÜNDOGAN, FODEN, MAHREZ, DE BRUYNE, STERLING

It's the Champions League Final! Chelsea and Manchester City go toe-to-toe for the third time in six weeks. Both lineups have been announced, and there isn't a central defensive midfielder (CDM) in City’s starting XI. This is confusing for many, because a CDM will be needed to counter many of Chelsea’s attacking options and shield City’s back four. But Pep Guardiola knows what he’s doing.

KICK OFF: MANCHESTER CITY 0–0 CHELSEA 

It's a nervous start to the game, which is expected considering this is the biggest game of most of these players' careers. Both sides are trying to get into the rhythm of the match, but Man City look a bit more settled. The Sky Blues have so many attacking options on the field that Chelsea will have to keep an eye on everyone. 

Ederson plays A GOOD PASS TO RAHEEM STERLING…! But Sterling’s first touch is poor and Reece James is able to clear out the ball. That was a good chance. A year ago, you would have bet your house that he would score from that, but in recent weeks he's been off. It's a bit of a wonder why Guardiola chose to start Sterling after the form that he’s had, but I guess you can’t question Pep. 

Chelsea are finding their legs, too. Although City are retaining more possession, Chelsea are compact and can hit them on the break. Chelsea are bypassing City’s defense with long passes and winning the 50/50s. At the moment, it’s working. MASON MOUNT HAS DISPOSSESSED JOHN STONES, AND PASSES IT TO TIMO WERNER…!!! But the German fluffed his lines again, as his shot was weak and hit straight at Ederson. Someone has to throw cold water on him and tell him he’s in a Champions League Final, not on the training ground. 

Chelsea are playing well; they just need to finish their chances. Here comes City… Kevin De Bruyne FINDS PHIL FODEN IN SPACE…!!! But Antonio Rüdiger makes a lunging tackle to block the shot. Even when Chelsea are playing better, all City need is one decent chance to score first. It's more magic from De Bruyne again, who found Foden with expertise. 

This is not a good sign for Chelsea… Thaigo Silva seems to have picked up an injury and can no longer play. Chelsea's leader will be on the sidelines for this game, with an hour still to go. Andreas Christiensen has replaced the Brazilian defender. Fortunately for the Blues, Chelsea's midfield is really bringing it to City. Mount has been playing some great passes, while N’Golo Kanté has been all over the field, picking up loose balls and making crunching tackles. City are getting exposed on the flanks due to Chelsea’s fast full backs, who are pushing high up the field. Kyle Walker and Oleksandr Zinchenko will have a lot of man marking to do this evening if City are to keep a clean sheet.

Ben Chillwell passes the ball to Mount. MOUNT HAS FOUND KAI HAVERTZ WITH A THROUGH BALL, WHO DRIBBLES PAST EDERSON, AND SLOTS THE BALL INTO AN EMPTY NET!!!!! GGOOOOOOOOAAAAALLL!!!!! Chelsea draw first blood in Porto!! It's a really good move from the Londoners. Werner dragged Ruben Dias outwards, giving Havertz all the space he could ask for. Ederson committed to sliding in, but Havertz finished brilliantly. 

Pep will be furious at his players. Walker was sucked out of position, while Zinchenko was on the wrong side of Havertz, who was quicker to the ball. I don’t know why Stones pushed so high up the field. The whole mess-up left it as a 2v2, where if City's fullbacks had dropped deeper, it could have been a 4v2. And the halftime whistle blows!

HALFTIME: CHELSEA 1–0 MANCHESTER CITY

Man City start the second half with lots of purpose. De Bruyne and Foden are getting more involved in the match, which might coincide with Chelsea starting to tire out. Still, Chelsea are defending well at the moment with Kanté, their key man. James intercepts De Bruyne’s pass and plays a long pass to Werner… but Dias gets there first. It's been a pretty solid game for Dias, who’s dealt with Chelsea’s attackers pretty well. The problem is really stemming from their fullbacks—I hope I don’t sound like a broken record. 

A Chelsea throw-in is headed away from Dias, but Havertz repossesses the ball. The German runs down the sidelines but is chopped down by Ilkay Gündogan, winning Chelsea a free kick. It seems that Man City haven’t sorted out their issues on the flank yet. What is Pep doing?

It's a nasty clash involving Rüdiger and De Bruyne. Both players ran into each other, and De Bruyne is walking off the pitch with a bruised eye. Rüdiger is shown a yellow card for what seemed to be a tactical foul on De Bruyne. It doesn’t seem like the Belgian International will be coming back on. This is a huge blow for Man City. However, The Sky Blues aren’t showing any signs of fatigue, as they continue to lay siege on Chelsea. It's the 66th minute of the game. Christian Pulisic is subbed in to replace Werner, and he is the first male American to ever play in a Champions League Final. Here comes Man City. Foden has found some space to pass to RIYAD MAHREZ WHO CROSSES THE BALL IN…!!! But a sliding Cesar Azpilicueta clears the ball over the bar. All Chelsea can think about right now is to hold on.

Both teams are having their own spells of attacks, before giving the ball away and defending their own goal. Chelsea seem to be finding momentum now, and are on the attack again. Havertz played a one-two with Pulisic and had acres of space in front of him, with Pulisic beside him… HAVERTZ LAYS IT OFF TO PULISIC!!!!!!! BUT HE HITS IT WIDE!! What a moment that could have been. Pulisic had the opportunity to write his name in history, but Ederson made himself big and Captain America's clipped shot went wide. 

Sergio Agüero has been subbed on for the last time in his Man City career, when they need him most. Can the Premier League legend deliver with time running out?

City is trying every trick up their sleeve. The Mancunians are launching crosses into the box, instead of playing the ball through the center, which is how they usually attack. Time after time, those crosses are being headed away. Chelsea themselves are still looking for a second goal, even though they could be sitting back and absorbing the Man City attacks. Both teams are getting into each other's halves, but City’s attacks are more dangerous. DIAS FIZZES A CROSS IN FOR MAHREZ, WHO PULLS IT BACK FOR FODEN…!!! BLOCKED!!! What a chance that could have been. Chelsea threw everything to stop the Englishman from scoring. 

It’s now or never for Manchester City. A Man City throw-in is headed away, BUT MAHREZ VOLLEYS IT TOWARDS GOAL—over the bar. Edouard Mendy was flat footed and praying it would go over. Ederson kicks the ball down the field one last time, but there goes the whistle!!! CHELSEA ARE CHAMPIONS!!!!

FULL TIME: CHELSEA 1–0 MANCHESTER CITY

Chelsea win the second Champions League title in their history! The Londoners were brilliant throughout most of the game, defending well against City and scoring the crucial goal. Questions need to be asked about Pep Guardiola. He always seems to overthink things. He really should have started a CDM because City looked open at the back without one. It's sad to see a legend like Agüero not ride off into the sunset with the Champions League title, but football can be cruel like that. A season that we will never forget is capped off perfectly with an enthralling final. 

That's it from us; we will see you this Summer for the EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!