A number of interesting facts appear ahead of the Europa League final match which brings Chelsea vs Arsenal at Baku Olympic Stadium on Wednesday (29/5). Here’s an interesting fact ahead of the Chelsea v Arsenal match in the Europa Cup final.
For Chelsea, this is the second time the Blues appear in the Europa League final after 2013. At that time Chelsea came out as champions after defeating Benfica 2-1 in a match held at the Johan Cruijff Arena.
Like Chelsea, Arsenal also made their second appearance in the Europa League final. However, on his first appearance in 2000 the Gunners were defeated by Galatasaray on penalties which ended 1-4 at the Parken Stadium, Denmark.
Here are six interesting facts ahead of the Chelsea v Arsenal match in the 2019 Europa League final quoted from the UEFA website:
1. The meeting of Chelsea vs Arsenal is the third final that brings together two teams from one country in the era of the Europa League. In the 2011 final two teams from Portugal, Porto vs Braga met. The result was won by Porto with a score of 1-0 through Falcao’s goal on 44 minutes at Aviva Stadium, Dublin.
A year later the Europa League final again brought together two clubs from one country, namely Spain. At that time, Atletico Madrid won 3-0 over Athletic Bilbao in a match held at the National Arena, Bucharest.
2. Chelsea have emerged as an unbeaten team in 14 matches in the Europa League this season. Through a record of 11 wins and three draws, the Blues dominated Group L before getting rid of Malmo, Dynamo Kyiv, Slavia Prague and stepping into the final on penalties by beating Eintracht Frankfurt.
3. Arsenal arrived at the Olympic Stadium by winning five consecutive matches in this tournament.
4. Currently Chelsea have secured a place in the 2019/2020 Champions League after finishing third in the English Premier League. While Arsenal, who finished fifth in the Premier League, can still qualify for the Champions League next season if become 2019 Europa League champions.
5. Chelsea and Arsenal are two clubs that are very familiar in the domestic competition, but both only once met in Europe. In the 2003/2004 Champions League quarter-finals, Chelsea drew 1-1 with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, then won 2-1 at Highbury.
6. Even though Chelsea was beaten by Manchester United in the 2008 Champions League final in Moscow, Russia, but on record of appearances against fellow English teams in all European tournaments, the Blues recorded only four defeats in 17 meetings.
