It was supposed to be the night time when Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City group filled with superstars lastly get their hand on the prize they’ve been ready for, the UEFA Champions League. Also, it was supposed to be the good send-off for his or her legend Sergio Aguero who had as soon as stated that he’d depart the membership solely after profitable the coveted UCL title. But destiny had different plans as Kai Havertz’s strike in the forty second minute was sufficient to delay the look ahead to the Blue Moon to Rise over Europe.
Pep Guardiola’s group had the ball early on however weren’t accountable for the proceedings. Chelsea intercepted, broke by means of and had a clear plan. They all the time seemed like the facet who would style blood first.
It could be flawed to say that the Cityzens by no means received the alternative to rating however they had been denied by some determined last-ditch defending by the Chelsea backline, particularly the occasion the place Antonio Rudiger’s sliding interception denied a sure purpose for Phil Foden.
Chelsea had their possibilities too, however Timo Werner’s type or the lack of it in entrance of the purpose continued as he scoffed two good possibilities to put the Blues forward.
Then got here the second in the forty second minute for which the Chelsea followers throughout the world was ready. Mendy performed the ball to Ben Chilwell who from the left flank handed the ball to Chelsea’s participant of the yr Mason Mount. The Englishman put ahead a by means of ball which dissected Ilkay Gundogan and John Stones close to the midway line and fell straight on Havertz’s path who was operating in between Zinchenko and Ruben Dias. Smelling hazard, Ederson raced off his line and went for the ball close to the fringe of the penalty field however Havertz saved his composure and rounded the sliding Brazilian earlier than rolling the ball into an empty internet in entrance of a 16,500 crowd.
But this is not one thing new that Chelsea followers noticed their group do towards a Pep Guardiola-led group for the first time. An analogous occasion occurred in 2012 in the semifinal towards Barcelona, which is nonetheless considered one in all the finest groups to ever play the stunning sport.
Just like this yr, Chelsea had been the underdogs then, their opponents had been controlling the tempo of the sport 9 years again as nicely. In 2012, it was Fernando Torres, their then costliest purchase who rounded up Victor Valdes to rating into an empty internet.
Apart from these two cases, there have been a few different similarities as nicely in Chelsea’s season:
1. Young inexperienced supervisor fired mid-season — Frank Lampard in 2021, Andre Villas-Boas in 2012.
2. Olivier Giroud turning into the 1st Chelsea participant to rating 6 targets in a UCL marketing campaign since Didier Drogba in 2012.
3. Portuguese opposition in the quarterfinal — Benfica in 2012, Porto in 2021
4. Chelsea dealing with a Spanish opponent in the semifinal, Barcelona in 2012 and Real Madrid this yr.
5. Edouard Mendy conserving extra clear sheets in the UCL than every other Chelsea goalkeeper since Petr Cech in 2012.
6. Thomas Tuchel turning into the first Chelsea supervisor to win all 3 of his first UCL knockout video games since Roberto Di Matteo in 2012
7. Mason Mount & Ben Chilwell turning into the first English gamers to rating in the identical UCL knockout sport since John Terry & Lampard in 2012
9. Manchester City profitable the Premier League each in 2012 and 2021
10. Manchester United ending second in the Premier League
11. Antonio Conte profitable the Serie A title, with Juve in 2012, and with Inter in 2021.
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