CL final dress rehearsal to yield no clear winners
This season's UEFA Champions League finalists duke it out in what is tantamount to a dress rehearsal for the season finale, but back in the bread and butter of domestic competition. A win for Manchester City will seal the title, and return it back to the Etihad Stadium with three matches to spare. Chelsea, meanwhile, are not yet assured of their spot in 2021/2022's elite European tournament, lying in fourth place ahead of a clutch of clubs that still harbour a glimmer of hope at leapfrogging them. Premier League crown aside, the match could be a low-key affair, and both sides might opt to rotate their squads heavily. Read our preview here:
Sergio's bow
The days are counting down on City legend Sergio Agüero's time in east Manchester, and doubtlessly, he'll be keen not only to fulfil his pledge not to leave the team until he'd secured Europe's top prize, but also to leave yet more happy memories for the club's loyal supporters. Pep Guardiola should give him the chance to do just that on Saturday, letting him lead the line whilst giving the evening off to others. Benjamin Mendy should return at left-back, whilst Rodri, surprisingly dropped for their midweek triumph over Paris Saint-Germain, will resume his role as enforcer in the double pivot, and João Cancelo will also get the nod. Even with several different names on the teamsheet, they will certainly press for the all-important win from the off.
Onward, Christian
Thomas Tuchel has done a sterling job since taking the reins mid-season at Stamford Bridge, guiding Chelsea back into the top four as well as overcoming Real Madrid en route to the showpiece final. There is more for him to lose by rotating too much and coming up short, but there will still a need to offer some respite. Mason Mount, who scored the decisive goal against Zinedine Zidane's men late on, is unlikely to be one of those, and will line up alongside Christian Pulisic in support of Kai Havertz, who looked ominiously dangerous on Wednesday. The former of those laid on the key pass for Mount, and will be rewarded with a start. The American international has had an on-off career in London, but has started to find his form in recent weeks.
Double treble
Though denied the chance of an unprecedented quadruple by Saturday's opponents in the FA Cup semis, Guardiola is unlikely to bemoan that too much, especially with one trophy sealed, and the second within touching distance. Chelsea's dramatic improvement under Tuchel augurs well for a title tilt of their own next year, and together with the rotations, this could be an entertaining match with relatively little real pressure riding on it, especially for City. 888sport have odds of 3.30 for a draw.
