Saturday, 15th of May 2021
FA Cup Final
Chelsea vs Leicester City
Venue – Wembley Stadium
Kick Off – 5.15 pm
Odds – Home Win 9/10 Away Win 3/1
*All odds are accurate at the time of writing and are provided by a popular Irish bookmaker.
Watch On – BBC One/BT Sport
Referee – Michael Oliver
This Saturday football fans the world over will get to witness the 140th final of the FA Cup.
Not only that, but this cup final, like the EFL Cup, will see fans in attendance at Wembley Stadium.
This game has been selected as a pilot event ahead of Wembley hosting several Euro 2020 matches during the summer. So, we’ll be able to feel the energy of up to 20,000 supporters on the day.
With a potential place in the 2021/22 Europa League group stages, £1.8 million worth of prize money and the famous trophy up for grabs, lets see how the two teams shape up coming into this one. Although both clubs qill be hoping to be in the Champions League next season.
Chelsea
Despite losing in their last league outing to Arsenal, Chelsea have been stellar since the arrival of, Thomas Tuchel.
Speaking of Tuchel, on Saturday he’ll become the first German manager to stand on the touchline in an FA Cup final.
He’ll be relying on players like Christian Pulisic who scored in last years losing cup final for Chelsea.
Since the arrival of Tuchel, the backline of Chelsea has been nothing short of spectacular on a consistent basis. The defence hasn’t conceded a single goal in this competition under the tenure of the 47-year-old.
With the likes of Kurt Zouma and Emerson impressing in games against lower league opposition Morecambe, Luton, and Barnsley, plus, the two Premier League sides the Blues faced later in the tournament, Sheffield United and Manchester City.
Leicester City
On paper, the Foxes have had a more rigorous road to this year’s final.
They made trips to Stoke and Championship play-off hopefuls, Brentford. Along with a trio of ties against Premier League sides in Brighton, Manchester United and Southampton.
This is Leicester’s first FA Cup final appearance since 1969, but this certainly isn’t their first rodeo.
In fact, they hold the record for the most FA Cup final defeats, with four. However, they have already beaten Chelsea this season, with a good 2-0 win over the Londoners, back in January.
Kelechi Iheanacho is also top scorer in this season’s FA Cup competition, with four goals. Leicester will be overjoyed having him, Jamie Vardy, and James Maddison all fit and ready to go.
Unfortunately, they will be without Harvey Barnes, Wes Morgan and James Justin who are all out with longer term injuries.
While Chelsea are missing defender Andreas Christensen, and more than likely, Mateo Kovacic who’s recovering from a hamstring injury.
Prediction – Chelsea in extra-time.