UCL final: Why goalkeeping could make all the difference

Both Manchester City and Chelsea are loaded with talented strikers, but it’s their respective goalies that could make the difference in the end.

The Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea promises to be the biggest game of the year, although high-stakes championship games (especially in soccer) often fail to live up to the hype.

The all-Premier League final features some of the world’s best players, particularly midfielders capable of scoring goals and strikers whose main task is to do so. And even in a sport with few goals, fans expect to see them in big games. Some of the superstars in Saturday’s big game includes Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling of Manchester City and Christian Pulisic and Timo Werner of Chelsea.

If Wednesday’s Europa League final won by Spanish side Villareal, after a marathon penalty-kick session against Manchetser United, is any indication, then look to the goalkeepers to make the big difference in the UCL final in Porto.

Villareal sealed their win after goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli scored his PK, then his opposite number David de Gea saw his attempt saved.

Should the Champions League final go the full distance (a real probability given how stingy both defenses have been all season), Manchester City’s Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson said he’d be willing to take the potentially decisive PK in a shootout.

Ederson told Brazilian outlet TNT Sport he’s prepared to take the kick should the match end in a draw after overtime.

“I don’t need to train much. But the fifth one, I’m taking it,” he said. “The decisive one. I think I’ll take the fifth one.”

Man City coach Pep Guardiola has said that Ederson is the team’s best penalty-kick taker, although don’t expect him to take one during a game. Ederson has never taken a penalty kick for the team. The club’s regular kick takers are De Bruyne, Sterling and Sergio Aguero.

No word on whether Chelsea starter Edouard Mendy would take one of the penalties in a shootout. Mendy is currently on the mend after injuring a rib in last Sunday’s Premier League finale. Manager Thomas Tuchel said he is still likely to start for the Blues after the French-born keeper who plays for Senegal trained with the team on Wednesday.

Both Ederson and Mendy are expected to have a big game. Both teams gave up just four goals each in the Champions League this season across 12 games. That’s an incredibly low number and a sign that both defenses, as well as the goalkeepers, will be called on to have a relatively error-free final.

Soccer is a game that depends on scoring. This Champions League final, however, could end up being a low-scoring affair. If that’s the case, look to the goalkeepers to make the difference.