Man City vs Chelsea: Who will win the Champions League final?

For only the third time in the competition's 66-year history, two English teams will contest the Champions League final later this month.

Manchester City and Chelsea - the Premier League's two best sides on current form - will fight it out for the biggest trophy European club football has to offer.

Whether it's held in Istanbul, London or Birmingham (yeah, Aston Villa are trying their hand) remains to be seen, but regardless, it promises to be a showstopper. While Man City are many people's favourite, Chelsea's recent win over the Premier League champions-elect suggested it is a far more even tie than it looks on paper.

So, who will win Man City vs Chelsea when the two face off on 29 May? 90min have broken it down.


Squads

The Man City players warm up before facing Chelsea | LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/Getty Images

Chelsea's squad has improved dramatically since the arrival of Thomas Tuchel in January. Kai Havertz and Timo Werner have recently come to life, Billy Gilmour has emerged as a promising squad option, and even Marcos Alonso has come in from the cold to offer cover for Ben Chilwell.

They're in a much, much stronger place than they were just a few months ago. But even still, City are...City.

Pep Guardiola's team rested a substantial amount of first-team players against Chelsea at the weekend but were still able to field Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero, Rodri, Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte.

Their bench for the same game read like a who's who of Premier League winners, with Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan - arguably their players of the season - coming on as substitutes. City's depth is out of this world, and there probably isn't a team on the planet who can rival it.

Winner: Man City


Head to head record

Marcos Alonso celebrates his winner for Chelsea | SHAUN BOTTERILL/Getty Images

If you trace their competitive head-to-head back far enough, it's hard to split them. City and Chelsea have faced off 13 times since Guardiola took the reins at the Etihad, with Chelsea winning six of those.

Their last 20 meetings have been split straight down the middle with nine wins apiece and two draws.

Chelsea, however, have had the beating of City in recent weeks. They turned them over at the Etihad on Saturday thanks to Marcos Alonso's late strike, while they also sent Guardiola's team packing in the FA Cup semi-finals in April.

Winner: Chelsea


Form

Manchester City are in fine fettle | SHAUN BOTTERILL/Getty Images

Manchester City are top of the Premier League by a mile, having won 25 of their 35 matches. Their imperious form might have been stunted a little with a handful of defeats to Chelsea and Leeds, but they have still won 12 of their last 15 matches.

That run encompasses a pair of wins over PSG which made it 11 victories from 12 in this season's Champions League. That has never been done before by an English team.

Chelsea have been in good shape recently, winning each of their last three including a priceless win at the Etihad at the weekend. But they haven't looked quite as unstoppable as City, as their 5-2 hammering against West Brom will attest.

Winner: Man City


Managers

Guardiola and Tuchel shake hands | Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Yeah, it's got to be Guardiola, doesn't it? The guy is on for his tenth league title in 11 seasons of management, and has already won nine trophies with Manchester City since arriving five years ago.

Tuchel has done a stellar job since taking the reins at Chelsea, but his record of attainment and success falls some way short of Guardiola's. That makes two of us, Thomas.

Winner: Manchester City


Record in big games

Chelsea beat Man City to reach the FA Cup final | ADAM DAVY/Getty Images

Chelsea have been there and done it in the Champions League. Manchester City...haven't.

Until this season, City seemed utterly incapable of making it beyond the semi-finals. There was always something stopping them from taking the final step, so their win over PSG in the last round was a big relief.

But Chelsea are mercenaries for these occasions. They recently beat Man City to reach the FA Cup final (big game), cruised past Real Madrid to reach the final when the tie was on a knife-edge (big game), and have won seven of their last eight cup finals (all big games).

They know how to get a big result, and if the Champions League finale comes down to a battle of wills, you'd find it hard to look past Chelsea.

Winner: Chelsea


Conclusion

It's tough to call between City and Chelsea | MARTIN RICKETT/Getty Images

It's a tough one to call this. A Chelsea win certainly wouldn't surprise you: they've had the better of Manchester City in recent months, their squad is full of winners, and you'd back them to win just about any big game they are faced with.

Just about, though. Because City are no standard opponent. They boast arguably the best squad of players on the planet, managed by someone to whom winning trophies is second nature, and they're miles ahead of everyone - including Chelsea - in the Premier League.

You'd fancy superior quality, and their desire to finally get a Champions League in the bag, to see Man City through. But only just.


Source : 90min