Chelsea got annoyed in the UEFA Champions League final in 2021, beating Manchester City 1-0 in a tense but fun all-English match. This is their second trophy in the Champions League and the first since 2012.
Chelsea’s Kai Havertz chose a convenient moment to score his first goal in the Champions League, running an inch perfectly inserted ball from space from Mason Mount, rounding up the keeper and laying in the back of the net three minutes before half-time.
It was the only goal Chelsea needed, frustrating Manchester City with a strong defensive play in the second half, typical of their approach under coach Thomas Tuchel. They would keep the English Premier League defender on just one goal in the entire match.
American Christian Pulisic became the first American national team player to play in the Champions League final when he entered in the 66th minute for Tim Werner. Just minutes after entering, he narrowly missed a golden opportunity, hitting a wide target.
Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola presented a surprise squad with central midfielders Fernandinho and Rodri who started on the bench. Whether it’s the lineup or Chelsea’s game, Citizens never looked calm in the first half, and Chelsea looked at the goal several times before the opening of Havertz’s strike.
Man City suffered a heavy blow to start the second half when captain Kevin De Bruyne was kicked out of the game due to a head injury after a collision with Antonio Rudiger. It was a tough battle without their best attacking player. Guardiola brought in Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus, but they couldn’t help their goal-selected team.
Chelsea – Manchester City
| 1H | 2H | Finally | |
| Chelsea | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Manchester City | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Objectives:
CHE – Havertz (hill) – 42. min
Chelsea vs Manchester City live updates, the most interesting parts of the Champions League final
97. min: It is over. Chelsea did it! Take them and they can defend themselves as rare teams in the world.
90th min: Seven minutes of extra time! Chelsea looked comfortable defending deeply. It’s hard to see how Man City broke through in this.
88th min: CARDBOARD – Gabriel Jesus is cautioned by the referee. Frustration.
80. min: SUB – Mateo Kovačić leaves Mason Mount. Chelsea want to lock this one.
77. min: SUB – Sergio Aguero comes on to Raheema Sterling. It’s Aguero’s last game for Manchester City, whatever the outcome.
73. min: Pulisic ONLY misses the target! On vacation, he fed Havertz and returned the ball, but failed to get it into the box. Ederson managed to close the corner well.
66. min: SUB – Christian Pulisic enters instead of Tim Werner and writes history: The first American to play in the Champions League final.
64th min: SAT – Fernandinho comes to the match for Bernardo Silva.
60th min: In the penalty area, Reece James shouts the Chelsea ball in his hand, but the referee is decisive – no handball. Verification complete.
59th min: God. The Man City captain has to come out with a head injury. De Bruyne out. Gabriel Jesus comes for him. Sterling takes the armband.
57th min: Quiet start of the 2nd half. Rudiger collides with De Bruyne and gets a yellow card for it. Sergio Aguero warming up for Man City.
46th min: In progress for the start of the second half. No changes.
HALF TIME: Manchester City 0, Chelsea 1
Half time: Fun first half. Chelsea with well-deserved leadership. They were in their game – sharp, fast, determined. Man City looked somehow different. It’s hard to hit Tuchel on the Pulisic bench after Mount and Havertz combine on goal.
42 min: GOAL – What a pass Mason Mount for Kai Havertz, who runs, rounds the goalkeeper and easily scores. Chelsea 1-0! It was Havertz’s first goal in the Champions League!
38th min: Injured Thiago Silva will have to come down. The oldest player in the Champions League final. Andreas Christensen replaces him.
37. min: Chelsea had an unusual holiday led by Kante. Havertz interrupts, and Man City left back Zinchenko clears.
34th min: CARDBOARD – Ilkay Gundogan is booked for fouling Mason Mount. And we have a hydration break.
30. min: Another ball for Sterling wide left. No danger on the cross, but Man City is looking for that space between Reece James and Cesar Azpilicuete.
27. min: Great shot by Antonio Rudiger directly into the box. Neutralizes Phil Foden’s opportunity in the penalty area.
26. min: Reece James is playing. Strong play on defense. They’re going to need more of that, because Man City is coming down from that side.
22 min: Chelsea were a better team in 20 minutes. Energetic, good ideas on the ball, fast in attack. Man City are messy.
17. min: Of all the people to stand on the header in the box. It is N’Golo Kante’s defensive midfielder. But it is beyond any limit.
Has anyone else seen the 5 foot 6in N’Golo Kante that he has won two headers so far?
An amazing man. #UCLFinal |. | #MCICHE
– The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) May 29, 2021
14th min: Two strokes by Tim Werner in seconds. At first he could not get around. The other was stopped for a corner.
10. min: Here are things from end to end. Timo Werner gets his head on it at one end of the box. Sterling sends a cross into the box from Chelsea’s penalty area but finds no teammate.
8. min: First big chance for Man City. A long ball for Sterling and Reece James and Mendy appears big to thwart the opportunity.
1. min: We are in progress! It’s great to have fans in the stadium.
Fair play do #mcfc #cfc fans, creating a fantastic atmosphere. The Estadio do Dragao is only third in position due to Covid’s limitations, but it sounds far fuller. #UCLFinal
– Henry Winter (@henrywinter) May 29, 2021
2:57 PM ET: Refs perform initial setups on the field.
2:49 PM ET: We are close.
2:33 PM ET: Feel the energy in the stadium.
2:30 PM ET: Here is what Tuchel said about omitting the Pulisic: “A difficult choice to omit, but very strong from the bench.”
2:00 PM ET: If this goes bad for ManCity today, we know what everyone will be talking about.
1:56 PM ET: The most important look of the day right there.
1:49 PM ET: Well done to USMNT fans. But Pulisic will move on in time.
For the past week in the US, the Champions League final has been charged largely as Pulisic v Steffen. They are both on the bench.
– Bob Williams (@ WilliamsBob75) May 29, 2021
1:34 PM ET: Countdown minutes.
1:30 PM ET: Chelsea legend Didier Drogba is gathering his side.
9:03 am ET: The weather in Porto is setting up nicely.
First let me tell you, IT IS A NICE DAY FOR FOOTBALL 🤌🤌
We went for a quick jog around Porto. Let me tell you this: PULISIĆ has a lot of LOVE from Chelsea fans. Mixed opinions on whether it starts. Look @UCLonCBSSports ‘IG stories. pic.twitter.com/FqS14ipCgx
– Nico Cantor (@ Nicocantor1) May 29, 2021
MORE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWS:
Chelsea – Manchester City starting lineup
There is no starting lineup. Christian Pulisic and Zack Steffen will start on the bench:
Manchester City
Starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): Ederson – Oleksandar Zinchenko, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Kyle Walker – Phil Foden, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva – Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne (captain), Riyad Mahrez
Available subscribers: Zack Steffen-GK, Scott Carson-GK, Nathan Ake, Aymeric Laporte, Eric Garcia, Joao Cancelo, Benjamin Mendy, Fernandinho, Rodrigo, Ferran Torres, Gabriel Jesus, Sergio Aguero
Chelsea
Starting lineup (3-4-3, left to right): Edouard Mendy – Antonio Rudiger, Thiago Silva, Cesar Azpilicueta – Ben Chilwell, N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Reece James – Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Mason Mount
Available subscribers: Kepa Arrizabalaga-GK, Wily Caballero-GK, Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen, Marcos Alonso, Emerson, Mateo Kovacic, Billy Gilmour, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, Olivier Giroud
How to watch the Champions League final in the USA
- Time: 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
- TV channels (English): CBS
- TV channels (Spanish): Univision, TUDN
- Live streams: Paramount +, TUDN.TV, fuboTV (free 7-day rehearsal)
CBS and Univision / TUDN will provide reports in English and Spanish on the UEFA Champions League final in 2021, covering foreplay starting at 13:30 Eastern Time on both networks.
Both networks are available for streaming fuboTV as part of a seven-day free trial .
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