Madrid is the only city that has been represented by both Champions League finalists but Manchester could emulate the capital of Spain this season. United and City have never met in European competition but both clubs could progress to the match that determines the champions of Europe. The last English team to win the Champions League was Chelsea in 2013. Bayern Munich won the competition in 2014 and since the five winners have been clubs from Spain.
Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid in the finals of the Champions League in the 2013-14 and 2015-16 seasons. They were the only finals of the competition and the European Cup that preceded it that involved two teams from the same city. The two Milan clubs have never met in the final and Liverpool and Everton have not contested the deciding match. It’s a massive sore point with Evertonians that they were denied a chance to play in the European Cup due to the ban on English clubs playing in Europe There is a fair chance that Liverpool and Everton could have met in a European final at the end of the 1980’s but sadly that is only speculation.
Consequently Madrid is the only city that has provided the two finalists in the Champions League. If Manchester match that achievement two players from Spain will play a big part. David de Gea (United) is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and David Silva (City) has played a massive part in his club’s success in recent years. The draw has to work out to keep the sides apart in earlier rounds but Manchester City and Manchester United could meet in the final of the Champions League next June, ironically at the home stadium of Atletico Madrid. It is usually the biggest betting match of any season when there is not a World Cup or European Championships.
Clubs from Spain and England have been the winners of the Europa League in the last seven seasons. Sevilla won the final three times in succession from 2014 to 2016. The manager during that spell was Unai Emery who now manages Arsenal. He clearly takes the Europa League seriously so this season may see Arsenal go all the way to the final at the Olympic Stadium in Baku. Their opponents could be Chelsea which means London would be represented by both finalists thus becoming the first city to provide both clubs for the final of the Europa League.
Manchester City have won the Premier League three times in the last seven seasons. Chelsea are the only other multiple champions since 2011-12. Even though the big city clubs will always have most money and should win the league every year Leicester City defied the odds three seasons ago. In fact it was the biggest upset in the history of team sport and is unlikely to be repeated for many years. City had so much in hand last season that another title is on the cards and meeting United in the final of the Champions League is a distinct possibility.
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