Chelsea won at home against Real Madrid, 2-0, to confirm its place in the Champions League final on May 29.
After a 1-1 draw last week in Madrid, Chelsea gave little space away in front of their glamorous opponents at Stamford Bridge and went home the deserved winners. With a fantastic effort, Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved his team from a beautiful Benzema curler from just outside the box after 26 minutes. The action then moved to the opposite box and stayed there for the whole game. Werner scored a minute after Mendy’s heroics. Soon after, Mason Mount ensured Chelsea’s qualification following a great assist from USMNT member Christian Pulisic.
“I feel so good because it’s well deserved,” Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said after the game. “It’s such a big step to overcome Real Madrid in a semifinal. Wow! Amazing team effort. What an energy, what a positive attitude. It’s a pleasure, an honor to be on the sidelines for this team. Big, big congratulations to the team.”
Chelsea will now confront Manchester City in the Champions League final, which will be played in Istanbul.
The ‘All English Club’
For the third time in the competition’s history, the Champions League final is a 100% English affair. Two weeks after the Super League debate sparked outrage among football fans across Europe, the English teams created a club of their own in the continental cups. There are high chances for the Europa League to have a similar outcome, as Manchester United and Arsenal are the favorites heading into the semifinals’ second legs on Thursday.
One of the two previous English Champions League finals involved Chelsea. In 2008, The Blues were beaten by Manchester United in a dramatic penalty shootout in Moscow. The other English final played up to this date saw Liverpool defeat Tottenham in Madrid in 2019 to clinch their sixth Champions League trophy.
Chelsea couldn’t win it in 2008, but managed a surprise triumph in 2012. A penalty shootout again, but this time with a much happier result than in 2008. Chelsea beat Bayern in Munich and celebrated a historical first at the highest level in European club football.
It’s a rather different story for Manchester City. Chelsea’s opponents in this year’s final will compete in the last act for the first time in their history.
Chelsea vs Man City: A complicated relationship
In a great preview for the final on May 29, City and Chelsea will meet up in Manchester on Saturday in the Premier League. If they win, City will celebrate their third English title in the past four years. Chelsea is trying hard to prevent that outcome, especially after City knocked them out of the FA Cup in last month’s semifinals, ending their dream of an historic Quadruple (league, Cup, League Cup, and Champions League). As a result, Chelsea will try to do their utmost to consolidate their fourth place in the Premier League with a win in Manchester.
City is listed at -118 to win on Saturday, while the bookies have a draw at +250 and a Chelsea win at +333. Manchester City is the favorite to win the Champions League final, too. A first-ever Champions League win for Pep Guardiola’s team is at -227, with Chelsea lifting the much-revered trophy at +175.