City v Chelsea: Champions League final match preview

In partnership with

Manchester City F.C.

·29 May 2021

City v Chelsea: Champions League final match preview

Everything you need to know ahead of the Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea...

When and where

City face Thomas Tuchel’s side at Porto’s Estádio do Dragão on Saturday 29 May, with kick-off at 20:00 (UK).

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Fans living in the UK can watch the game for free live on BT Sport 1 or on the BT Sport YouTube channel, whilst supporters living around the world should check out our global TV listings, courtesy of livesoccertv.com, at the foot of this page to find out how you can tune in.

If you are unable to watch the match you can follow minute-by-minute updates in our Matchday Centre here on mancity.com and the Man City App.

CITY+ subscribers can also watch a full-match replay at midnight following the game.

We’re Not Really Here

There is a bumper line-up for the cup final edition of our We're Not Really Here matchday show.

Nedum Onuoha, Kevin Horlock and Paul Dickov will join us live from Porto with presenter Cel Spellman, whilst Shaun Goater, Gareth Taylor and YouTuber Steven McInerney will be back in Manchester with hosts Natalie Pike and Kyle Walker.

Our panel will guide you through all the pre-match build-up with the usual mix of analysis and opinion, whilst they will also be providing reaction at both half-time and full-time.

We’re Not Really Here is available to watch on all of our digital platforms, including the Matchday Centre on mancity.com, and will begin 90 minutes before kick-off at 18:30 (UK).

Injury news

Ilkay Gundogan, who was moving gingerly when he was withdrawn against Brighton and Hove Albion and was an unused substitute against Everton, has confirmed he is fit to face Chelsea.

With Joao Cancelo returning from suspension, it means Pep Guardiola has a full squad to choose from.

The manager’s second pre-match press conference will take place on Friday 28 May, when he’ll provide a final update on the availability of his players.

Pep Guardiola: I am so confident

“Sometimes clubs need more finals to win the first one, others need one shot. Hopefully that will be the case.

“We are new for many things. In this period we live, back to back [Premier League titles] for the first time, break a lot of records, semi-final for the second time, final for the first time.

“As a club we're not old in this case. In terms of how excited, delighted, satisfied, nobody can beat us.

“I am so confident in my team. You cannot imagine how confident I am in my team and what we have to do.”

Read the manager’s preview, here.

WATCH: Guardiola: "I know how good my team are"

Ilkay Gundogan: We have the right dynamic

“There is no need to put anyone under pressure.

“Everyone has done well. I don't think there is much to change. It is about maintaining the level and form, not more.

“Everything has worked so well during the season, I just feel like we have the right dynamics in the group. Everything is quite set.

“That’s why I feel we are prepared for it. It is just about repeating what we did."

Read Gundogan’s preview, here.

Thomas Tuchel: City the benchmark

"It’s always so, so tough to play against [Guardiola’s] teams. I played against his [Bayern] team, and now against his Man City team.

“I watched his Barcelona team to learn from him and his team about football: how you can defend and how you can attack, for years and years. He built winning machines, and this is what he has done now, here in England.

"I don’t hesitate to say that Man City and Bayern have been the benchmark in Europe this season and last season.

“We are trying to close the gap and the good thing is, in football, you can close gaps in 90 minutes. That is absolutely possible, and that’s what we are aiming to do in the final."

WATCH: Gundogan reveals fitness update ahead of Champions League final

Form guide

City come into the game on the back of a resounding 5-0 win over Everton on the final day of the Premier League season and have won seven of our last 10 games in all competitions.

We reached the final following a 4-1 aggregate victory over Paris Saint-Germain, staging a stunning fightback to win 2-1 in the first leg in the French capital before completing the job with an impressive 2-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium.

Chelsea guaranteed their place in the Champions League next season with a fourth place finish in the Premier League, despite losing 2-1 to Aston Villa in their final game of the season.

That was their third defeat in four matches in all competitions, which included missing out in the FA Cup final against Leicester City. The West London outfit having won five of their previous 10 fixtures ahead of Saturday’s meeting.

Tuchel’s side beat Real Madrid 3-1 on aggregate to reach the final, following up a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Spain with a convincing 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

WATCH: Highlights: City 2-0 PSG

Last meeting

Chelsea won 2-1 at the Etihad three weeks ago to delay City’s title celebrations.

Raheem Sterling gave the home side the lead in the 44th minute and Sergio Aguero missed a golden opportunity to extend our lead before the break when his Panenka penalty was saved by Edouard Mendy.

Chelsea took full advantage of that reprieve, with Hakim Ziyech levelling on the hour mark, before Marcos Alonso consigned City to a frustrating defeat with a 92nd minute winner.