The final match of the2020/21 UEFA Champions Leaguewill be the2021 UEFA Champions League Final, the 66th edition of the most popular European clubcompetition, and the 29th edition since theChampionship European Cup became known as the Champions League. It will be held in Porto, Portugal, at the Estadio do Dragao on May 29, 2021, betweenPremier LeaguerivalsManchester CityandChelsea.
This will be Chelsea’s third stintin the Champions League Final, while Manchester City will debut intheir first grand European final ever. The winnerswill be able to compete in the 2021 UEFA Super Cup against the champions of the2020/21 UEFA Europa League,Villarreal, as well as qualify for the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.
They will also automaticallyqualify for the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League Group Stage, but if they have already qualified through league performance, the reserved slot will be granted to the champions of the 11th-ranked association based on next season’s access list.
Manchester City’sroad to the 2021 UEFA Champions League Final
In the 2020/21UEFA Champions League Group Stage, Manchester City werelocated inGroup C, alongsidePorto, Olympiacos, and Marseille. The English side managedto seal a flawless record of five wins, and one draw. They defeated Porto 3-1, Olympiacos 3-0,Marseille 3-0 at home, while it is Porto who held them away 0-0. In addition, the Citizens grabbed another victory over the Greek side, this time1-0 away, and another 3-0 triumphagainst OL in France.
Pep Guardiola’s players ended the Group Stage on top of Group C with 16 points in six matches. Thus, they set up a meeting with Borussia Monchengladbach in the Round of 16. It proved to be an easy bite for City as they won each matchupwith a final result of 2-0. Then, in the Quarter-Finals, they met with another Borussia, this time from Dortmund. However, neither Erling Haaland and the co. couldn’t stop the EPL’s machinery, suffering two 2-1 defeats.
The ultimate obstacle towards the final was last season’s runner-up, Paris Saint-Germain. The Ligue 1 giants were hoping to get another chance to star in a UCL final, but eventually, Man City crushed their dreams winning 4-1 on aggregate.
Chelsea’sroad to the 2021 UEFA Champions League Final
Chelsea players celebrate after a goal. (Getty)
Another Premier League club, Chelsea werelocated inGroup E, alongsideSevilla, Krasnodar, and Rennes in the 2020/21UEFA Champions League Group Stage.The Blues managedto end the early phase with four triumphs, and two draws. They opened with a 0-0 draw against Sevilla, and in the other two of their home games, Chelsea again drew 1-1 vs Krasnodar and beat Rennes 3-0. As for their away record, it remained untouched, having won 4-0 vs Sevilla and the Russian sideeach, and 2-1 against Rennes in France.
The Stamford Bridge outfitfinished the Group Stage on top of Group E with 14points in six matches. Next,they faced Atletico Madrid in the last16. However, the new La Liga champions have shown their inexperience in the UCL, after being totally dominated by the Blues, under their new coach, Thomas Tuchel. The two clashes resulted in an aggregate 3-0 victory. During the following phase, Chelsea came up against Porto, who had previously knocked Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus out of the competition. Moreover, Portugal’s pride failed to repeat the same success, losing 2-1 on aggregate.
In the Semis, Tuchel and the boys proved to everyone why they deserve a place in this season’s final, thanks to the two incredible matchups against 13-timeChampions League winners, Real Madrid. The Whites attempted to stand in their way, but Chelsea didn’t let them, as they progressed to the final with a 3-1 total result.
