Is final match Chelsea vs Arsenal , EPL vs EPL.
The first all-English Europa League (EL)/UEFA Cup final since 1971/72 will see a London derby between Arsenal and Chelsea in Baku, Azerbaijan – a city that will necessitate a 9,000 km round trip for rivals based just 10 km apart.
Chelsea, winners of the EL in 2012/13, head into the final with just one loss in 12 competitive games (W7, D4, L1), including a penalty shootout win over Frankfurt in the semi-final of this competition. That success marked 14 EL games unbeaten this term and 17 overall – a competition record. Yet no side has ever won the EL without losing a game.
None of Chelsea’s EL games this season (W11, D3) saw them losing at half-time, while eight of them produced a clean sheet for the ‘Blues’.
Needing to win to claim a Champions League place, Arsenal’s home and away wins in the EL semi-final over Valencia – after going a goal down in each – form part of four unbeaten competitive games (W3, D1), three of which saw them win with a -1 handicap.