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Stream free, TV channel, kick-off time, team news for TODAY’S FA Cup final 2021 at Wembley


CHELSEA are taking on Leicester in an all-Premier League FA Cup final at Wembley today.

The Blues are chasing a first FA Cup triumph since 2018, when they defeated Manchester United in the final in Antonio Conte’s final game in charge.



Leicester meanwhile haven’t been in the showpiece of this competition since 1969 – and have never lifted the trophy.

In a refreshing sight, 21 thousand fans will be present today – the largest crowd at a British sporting event since the coronavirus pandemic started.

What time does Chelsea vs Leicester kick off?

  • The 2021 FA Cup final will be held on Saturday, May 15 – TODAY.
  • Kick-off at Wembley will be at 5.15pm BST.
  • The two sides have met once so far this season in the Premier League, with Leicester running out 2-0 winners.

What TV channel is Chelsea vs Leicester on and can I live stream it free?

  • You can catch this game live on free-to-air TV here in the UK.
  • BBC ONE will be showing all the action from Wembley live, while you can also watch on BT Sport.
  • If you want to stream, the BBC iPlayer and BT Sport apps will allow you to watch on your mobile, tablet or laptop.
  • You can also get a three-month free trial of BT Sport if you have an EE phone contract or get it included if you have Smart Benefits.

What is the team news?

Chelsea are hoping that they can welcome Mateo Kovacic back into the side after his recent injury run out of the side.

N’Golo Kante missed the Arsenal loss with an Achilles problem and is a doubt for the final but could come on from the bench.

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Hakim Ziyech will likely start the final after his heroics in the semi-final, with a view to giving Christian Pulisic a rest too.

Timothy Castagne will likely start in place of Marc Labrighton with Ricardo Pereira also fit to start.

James Maddison is also fit and should start, with Jamie Vardy starting up front.

Jonny Evans has a foot injury but should just about make it intimidates for the final to start alongside Wesley Fofana.

Match odds

  • Leicester to win in 90 minutes – 3/1
  • Draw – 5/2
  • Chelsea victory – 20/23
  • Foxes to lift trophy – 9/5
  • Blues to win FA Cup – 4/9

*All odds from Paddy Power and correct at time of publication.

  • FANS ARE BACK

    The FA Cup Final won’t be taking place with empty stands at Wembley Stadium as a total of 21,000 fans will be in attendance.

    That means that the legendary ground, which holds up to 90,000 fans, will be at an approximate 23 per cent capacity for the clash between Chelsea and Leicester.

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    The allocation is made up of supporters from both teams as well as local residents and NHS staff, who were offered tickets as a way of saying thank you for their tireless work during the coronavirus pandemic.

    But the supporters had to take a Covid-19 test two or three days prior to the match before another one on the day of the final.

    Fans were also allowed to attend last month’s Carabao Cup Final between eventual winners Manchester City and Tottenham, although Wembley that day was at 8,000 capacity

  • LEICESTER STATS

    Leicester are third in the Premier League table with two points separating them from fourth-placed Chelsea.

    The Foxes have been impressive in the FA Cup as they have scored 12 goals, one more than the Blues, and conceded a mere two.

    Brendan Rodgers’ men have won 20 out of 36 Premier League matches and lost 10, which makes it the joint-worst return of the top four.

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    Leicester have scored a total of 65 goals and conceded 44, which means that Kasper Schmeichel has picked up the ball out of his own net more times than anyone else in the top five

     

  • CHELSEA STATS

    Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League table with four points separating them from fifth-placed Liverpool and two from third-placed Leicester, whom they will also face in the Premier League at home on Tuesday.

    The Foxes have their work cut out as the Blues hold the joint-highest number of clean sheets (18) in the Premier League and have only conceded one goal in all of their five FA Cup matches, where they have scored 11 goals.

    The west Londoners have won a total of 18 out of 36 matches in the Premier League where they have lost eight times, which is the joint-worst return of the top four.

    However, they have scored a total of 55 goals in the top flight and conceded a mere 33, which is the second lowest tally behind Manchester City

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    GETTY IMAGES
    GETTY IMAGES
  • HEAD -TO-HEAD

    Chelsea and Leicester’s first ever encounter took place way back in 1905 during a second division match in the East Midlands that the Blues won 1-0.

    Since then, the two sides have faced off a total of 118 times across all competitions with the west Londoners winning a majority of 57 games, compared to the Foxes’ 27 victories.

    The two Premier League giants have met nine times in the FA Cup and Chelsea won seven of the exchange whereas Leicester have yet to beat their Wembley opponents in the competition.

    The Blues overcame Brendan Rodgers’ men in the sixth round last year with a score of 1-0 thanks to Ross Barkley’s winner.

    However, Leicester should still be feeling confident as they defeated Thomas Tuchel’s men 2-0 in their Premier League clash five months ago in Frank Lampard’s penultimate match in charge

  • TEAM NEWS

    It is a glorious day at Wembley as a total of 21,000 supporters return to the stands for this major clash between the Blues and the Foxes after a long absence due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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    Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel will get the opportunity to win his first piece of silverware in west London after turning things around at Stamford Bridge five months ago when he replaced Frank Lampard at the helm.

    But Tuchel is facing the prospect of missing midfield star N’Golo Kante, who’s suffering Achilles trouble that kept him out of the midweek defeat by Arsenal.

    Andreas Christensen also poses as a doubt as he is dealing with a tendon problem and the same goes for Mateo Kovacic after his recent bout with a hamstring injury.

    Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers, on the other hand, will be without long-term absentees Harvey Barnes and James Justin who are both out with a knee injury.

    Meanwhile, Jonny Evans is hoping to recover in time from a recent foot injury while star midfielder James Maddison is expected to return to the starting line-up after overcoming a hip problem

    GETTY IMAGES
    GETTY IMAGES
  • FAN-TASTIC

    Isn’t this a sight for sore eyes?

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    The first fans descending on Wembley after over 14 months without watching their teams.

    These Leicester City supporters have already seen their team cause arguably the biggest shock in football history by lifting the Premier League title in 2016.

    And they’ll be looking for their team to defy expectations once again as they face Champions League finalists Chelsea.

  • BLUE IS THE COLOUR

    It’s a battle of the Blues as Chelsea take on Leicester in the FA Cup final.

    The West Londoners are looking for a first trophy under Thomas Tuchel as they take on the Foxes at Wembley.

    And with victory they can go one better than they managed under Frank Lampard when they were edged out 2-1 in last year’s final.

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    Leicester meanwhile have not appeared at an FA Cup final since 1969.
    On that day, they were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City.

    But the club has big ambitions and are looking for a first trophy under Brendan Rodgers.

    This match will also mark the largest capacity at an English football match since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis last year.

    21,000 fans will be out in force cheering their teams on at Wembley today.





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