The anticipation builds as Chelsea prepares to face Manchester City in the FA Cup final, marking a significant encounter between two prominent clubs. Kick-off is set for 3pm BST at Wembley, a venue familiar to both teams given their recent history in finals.

Chelsea will implement a back three, making two changes from their recent draw against Liverpool. Robert Sanchez and Reece James replace Filip Jorgensen and Andrey Santos in the starting lineup. The formation is a tactical shift that helped them dominate the second half in their previous league meeting against City.

Meanwhile, Manchester City, under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, starts with Omar Marmoush, who has had a rocky history in finals, including a saved penalty last year. James Trafford returns as the designated FA Cup goalkeeper, while Rodri makes a significant comeback to the starting eleven.

The lineups are as follows:

Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Sanchez; Fofana, Colwill, Hato; Gusto, James, Caicedo, Cucurella; Palmer, Enzo; Joao Pedro.

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Bernardo, Rodri; Semenyo, Marmoush, Doku; Haaland.

Substitutes for Chelsea include Jorgensen, Acheampong, and Garnacho, while City’s bench features Donnarumma, Dias, and Foden.

The narrative surrounding this final is rich, with Calum McFarlane leading Chelsea after a meteoric rise from grassroots football. Guardiola, celebrating a decade at City, aims for his 17th major trophy, amidst speculation about his future at the club.

Historically, Chelsea has shown resilience, having upset top teams in previous finals, which adds an intriguing layer to today’s match. Despite being underdogs, they are not to be underestimated as they seek their first domestic trophy since 2018.