Huge shocks as Champions League final line-ups announced

By Ben Browning


Published: May 29, 2021 7:04 pm

Last Updated: May 29, 2021 7:22 pm

Surprises in both sides.

Thomas Tuchel has been handed a huge boost as the Champions League final lineups have been released.

N’Golo Kante and Edouard Mendy have both been named in the first XI for Chelsea, who will need both on top form to stop the titan of English football in recent years. Kante was incredible for the Blues on the way to the final, starring across both legs of their Semi final victory over Real Madrid.

Kanté:

️ “Everybody knows that Kanté can run for 11 players. He’s everywhere!” @ChelseaFC | #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/nau9SmGiW5

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 26, 2021

Edouard Mendy was also vital to Chelsea’s progression to their first Champions League final since 2012, with a pair of brilliant saves to deny Real Madrid marksman Karim Benzema.

Team news is in! #UCLFinal pic.twitter.com/BrKdO0jdId

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 29, 2021

Reece James remains on the right side of Chelsea’s back three, whilst Ben Chilwell is preferred to Marcos Alonso on the left flank. At the top of the pitch, it is a familiar trio of Timo Werner, Mason Mount, and Kai Havertz in attack.

Gundogan fit to start

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan limped out of training just 24 hours before this game, but has been deemed fit and starts in an attacking 4-3-3 for Pep Guardiola.

Olexander Zinchenko is preferred to Joao Cancelo at left-back, whilst Fernandinho and Rodri are both left on the bench, with the Manchester city boss opting for an attacking midfield trio.

Raheem Sterling returns to the side too, whilst there is still no room for Sergio Aguero- Kevin De Bruyne will lead the line for the Citizens as they continue with their “false 9” formation.

Here we go

XI | Ederson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Zinchenko, Gundogan, De Bruyne (C), Bernardo, Mahrez, Sterling, Foden

SUBS | Steffen, Carson, Ake, Jesus, Aguero, Laporte, Rodrigo, Torres, Mendy, Fernandinho, Cancelo, Garcia

⚽️ #UCLFinal
#ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/APXPDXtXTk

— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 29, 2021

Gundogan’s return could prove to be a huge boost for the Premier League champions, with the German scoring 13 times in their title-winning campaign, the most of anyone in the squad.

However, it appears a bold move to leave out any defensive option in midfield, suggesting that Guardiola intends to provide a barrage of attacks against Chelsea’s rock-solid defence.

Only time will tell if it pays off. With such seemingly bold decisions, the Champions League final is shaping up to be a fascinating encounter.

Read more:

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Premier League table

#	Team	MP	D	P
1	Manchester City FC	38	51	86
2	Manchester United FC	38	29	74
3	Liverpool FC	38	26	69
4	Chelsea FC	38	22	67
5	Leicester City FC	38	18	66
6	West Ham United FC	38	15	65
7	Tottenham Hotspur FC	38	23	62
8	Arsenal FC	38	16	61
9	Leeds United	38	8	59
10	Everton FC	38	-1	59
11	Aston Villa FC	38	9	55
12	Newcastle United FC	38	-16	45
13	Wolverhampton Wanderers FC	38	-16	45
14	Crystal Palace FC	38	-25	44
15	Southampton FC	38	-21	43
16	Brighton & Hove Albion FC	38	-6	41
17	Burnley FC	38	-22	39
18	Fulham FC	38	-26	28
19	West Bromwich Albion	38	-41	26
20	Sheffield United FC	38	-43	23

Player	Team	Goals
Kane, Harry	Tottenham Hotspur FC	23
Salah, Mohamed	Liverpool FC	22
Fernandes, Bruno	Manchester United FC	17
Son, Heung Min	Tottenham Hotspur FC	17
Bamford, Patrick	Leeds United	17
Calvert-Lewin, Dominic	Everton FC	16
Vardy, Jamie	Leicester City FC	15
Watkins, Ollie	Aston Villa FC	14
Gundogan, Ilkay	Manchester City FC	13
Lacazette, Alexandre	Arsenal FC	13
Wilson, Callum	Newcastle United FC	12
Ings, Danny	Southampton FC	12
Wood, Chris	Burnley FC	12
Iheanacho, Kelechi	Leicester City FC	12
Rashford, Marcus	Manchester United FC	11
Mane, Sadio	Liverpool FC	11
Pereira, Matheus	West Bromwich Albion	11
Bale, Gareth	Tottenham Hotspur FC	11
Zaha, Wilfried	Crystal Palace FC	11
Sterling, Raheem	Manchester City FC	10

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Player	Team	Red Cards	Yellow Cards
McGinn, John	Aston Villa FC	0	12
Gallagher, Conor	West Bromwich Albion	0	11
Maguire, Harry	Manchester United FC	0	11
Phillips, Kalvin	Leeds United	0	10
Hojbjerg, Pierre	Tottenham Hotspur FC	0	9
Milivojevic, Luka	Crystal Palace FC	1	8
Lundstram, John	Sheffield United FC	1	8
Luiz, Douglas	Aston Villa FC	0	8
Holgate, Mason	Everton FC	0	9
Bissouma, Yves	Brighton & Hove Albion FC	1	8
Soucek, Tomas	West Ham United FC	1	7
Shaw, Luke	Manchester United FC	0	8
Xhaka, Granit	Arsenal FC	1	7
Bellerin, Hector	Arsenal FC	0	8
Andersen, Joachim	Fulham FC	1	7
Egan, John	Sheffield United FC	1	7
Hayden, Isaac	Newcastle United FC	0	8
Dallas, Stuart	Leeds United	0	7
McGoldrick, David	Sheffield United FC	0	7
Reid, Bobby	Fulham FC	0	7

Player	Team	Assists
Kane, Harry	Tottenham Hotspur FC	14
Fernandes, Bruno	Manchester United FC	12
De Bruyne, Kevin	Manchester City FC	11
Son, Heung Min	Tottenham Hotspur FC	10
Grealish, Jack	Aston Villa FC	10
Rashford, Marcus	Manchester United FC	9
Raphinha	Leeds United	9
Vardy, Jamie	Leicester City FC	8
Mane, Sadio	Liverpool FC	8
Harrison, Jack	Leeds United	8
Werner, Timo	Chelsea FC	8
Gross, Pascal	Brighton & Hove Albion FC	8
Cresswell, Aaron	West Ham United FC	8
Pereira, Matheus	West Bromwich Albion	7
Sterling, Raheem	Manchester City FC	7
Firmino, Roberto	Liverpool FC	7
Ward-Prowse, James	Southampton FC	7
Eze, Eberechi	Crystal Palace FC	7
Alexander-Arnold, Trent	Liverpool FC	7
Robertson, Andrew	Liverpool FC	7