United States
United Kingdom
Canada
South Africa
Australia
Saturday brings us the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Leicester City, with both teams battling it out for the most prestigious cup trophy in English soccer. Chelsea last won the FA Cup in 2018, although the Blues lost last year’s final to London rival Arsenal.
This will be the third time in the last four years that Chelsea is playing in the final, putting the Blues in familiar territory.
However, Leicester City haven’t played in an FA Cup final since 1969. In four previous attempts, the Foxes lost in the final, putting Leicester in a position to win the FA Cup for the first time in club history.
As usual, Wembley Stadium will host the cup final. Much like the Carabao Cup final earlier this season, UK fans will be allowed in Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup final, with the capacity set at 21,000 fans due to the successful role out of the vaccination programme in the country. Kickoff is set for 17:00 BST on Saturday, May 15.
Bet On Chelsea vs. Leicester City On Our Best Sportsbooks
| Rank | Rooms | Expert Score | Signup Bonus | Play Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
5/5 Read Review
|
 |
103 user ratings |
Deposit $25, Get up to $2500 (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! |
|
2
4/5 Read Review
|
 |
93 user ratings |
50% up to $200 (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! |
|
3
3.5/5 Read Review
|
 |
30 user ratings |
300% Casino Match / 50% Sports Match (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! |
|
4
5/5 Read Review
|
 |
107 user ratings |
50% up to $250+$100 Welcome Bet (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! |
|
5
4.8/5 Read Review
|
 |
109 user ratings |
100% up to $500 (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! |
* Odds have been provided by 888sport and are accurate of May 10, 2021
Chelsea
Key Player: Timo Werner
In the Premier League, Chelsea is close to securing a top-4 spot and a berth in next season’s Champions League. At the same time, the Blues are also preparing for this year’s Champions League final against Manchester City at the end of the month. Needless to say, that means Thomas Tuchel’s side has been in great form recently. Following a win over Manchester City in a Champions League final preview, the Blues have five wins and two draws in their last seven games.
Strong defensive play has been Chelsea’s catalyst during that stretch. They’ve conceded just two goals during that seven-game stretch and just four goals in their last 10 matches. Tuchel’s preferred three-man backline of Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Thiago Silva has turned the Blues into one of the best defensive teams in Europe.
At the same time, scoring goals remains a concern for the Blues. That makes Timo Werner the club’s most important player in the FA Cup final. Tuchel continues to put Werner in the starting 11, and he’s scored twice in his last five games. However, his goals have been simple finishes that few strikers would miss. Meanwhile, he’s had some egregious misses in obvious goal-scoring chances. If Werner can’t deliver, the pressure shifts to the midfield contingent of Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic, and Kai Havertz to create and finish Chelsea’s chances.
Odds To Win: 1/2 (-200)
Leicester City
Key Player: Jamie Vardy
Leicester City’s excitement at being in the FA Cup final has been somewhat tempered by the team’s poor form in recent weeks. Last Friday, the Foxes were embarrassed by Newcastle United 4-2 in a game that was far worse than the final score indicates. That followed up a disappointing draw against Southampton, as well as losses against Manchester City and West Ham United in early April, meaning Brendan Rodgers’ team has just three wins in its last seven games.
In the wake of the 4-2 loss to Newcastle, defense is suddenly a concern for the Foxes. Their only clean sheets over the past month have come against relegation-bound West Bromwich Albion and in the FA Cup semifinal against Southampton. Despite being a top-4 team in the Premier League standings, Leicester City has only the 10th-best defensive record in the league, conceding 43 goals in 35 games.
In fairness, scoring goals has long been Leicester’s bread and butter. However, leading scorer Jamie Vardy finds himself in an extended goal-scoring drought. He’s found the back of the net just once in his last 12 games. The good news is that Kelechi Iheanacho has helped fill the void, scoring 13 goals in 11 games since the start of March. He will be the man that the Chelsea defense must focus on stopping, although Vardy remains an ever-present threat to score.
Odds To Win: 8/5 (+160)
Prediction
Chelsea is a heavy favorite in the FA Cup final for two big reasons. First, they are the better defensive team. Second, the Blues are in far better form than Leicester City right now. Obviously, Leicester City has more offensive firepower, giving them an edge if the Foxes can push the tempo and create a more open game. However, Chelsea will likely remain disciplined and make Leicester City work hard to create quality chances. That should allow the Blues to win the trophy via a low-scoring game.
Ryan Knuppel Author
Ryan (aka Knup) has been writing sports betting content for over a decade now. He covers anything and everything related to United Stats sports including football, basketball, baseball, golf and more. He has finished first place in several gambling related contests over the years which gives him instant credibility in the betting world. Ryan is a die-hard St. Louis...
