Chelsea won the Champions League at the expense of Manchester City on Saturday. The team of manager Thomas Tuchel enjoyed a minimal lead at halftime, which was no longer relinquished in the second company: 0-1. Kai Havertz made the only goal of the match on a pass from Mason Mount. It is the second time in club history that the Londoners have seized the European top prize, after the cup was previously held up in 2012. The final battle was completed under the watchful eye of 16,500 spectators in the Estádio do Dragão in Porto.
Hakim Ziyech started at the Blues as a substitute, as Tuchel preferred Mount and Havertz at the forefront. At City, Ilkay Gundogan, who was in doubt due to a minor injury, was just in the starting line-up. In contrast to the last Premier League game with Everton (5-0), Bernardo Silva also got a starting spot, while Nathan Aké, Fernandinho and Gabriel Jesus, among others, had to settle for a place on the bench. Kevin De Bruyne took on the role as ‘false striker’.
The first opportunity of the match was scored by Raheem Sterling, who got the ball after a long kick from goalkeeper Ederson into the hostile sixteen-meter area but did not come out well enough with his passes to open the score. Then it was Chelsea’s turn. After careless defending by John Stones, Havertz had the opportunity to give Timo Werner a huge opportunity with a wide pass. The striker, however, mowed the ball with his left and tapped the leather away with his standing leg: lost the chance. More than a minute later, the German got a second chance. In a similar situation, Mount acted as the principal this time, but Werner couldn’t give his shot enough momentum to seriously get Ederson into trouble.
Halfway through the first act, City had an excellent opportunity. De Bruyne opened the way to the goal with a nice through ball for Phil Foden, who punted from about eight meters on goal but Antonio Rüdiger barely saw the shot block. In the remainder of the first half, the game swung up and down and the scoreless score seemed to be unchanged. Still, Chelsea moved the scoreboard in the 41st minute. Near the center line, Mount sent a deep pass towards Havertz, who was too quick for Oleksandr Zinchenko, passed Ederson and shot the ball into an empty goal: 0-1. It was Havertz’s first ever Champions League goal.
Ten minutes after the break, Guardiola suffered a serious setback, when De Bruyne went to the ground after a violent collision with Rüdiger. The Belgian was unable to continue the game and had to leave the field with tears in his eyes in favor of Gabriel Jesus. Shortly afterwards, City hoped to get a penalty kick after an alleged handball from Reece James, but referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz firmly dismissed the fanatic appeal. More than fifteen minutes before time, Chelsea became dangerous. N’Golo Kanté conquered the ball in midfield and brought Havertz into position, after which the latter put Christian Pulisic face to face with Ederson. The American who came in for Werner, however, shot just wide.
In a frantic attempt to force a breakthrough, Sergio Agüero was brought in for Sterling in the final quarter. The pressure on the enemy target was increased, but the London defense was able to defuse attempts by Riyad Mahrez and Foden, among other things. Chelsea also held their own in the seven-minute injury time. Ziyech eventually got no more playing minutes.