• ROAD TO FA CUP FINAL: THIRD ROUND: January 9 - Stoke City 0 Leicester City 4 (Justin 34', Tielemans 59', Perez 79', Barnes 81'): An easy win for Leicester against second-tier Stoke, even without star turns James Maddison and Jamie Vardy. Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers said: "We have a good team that is mobile and it was about making sure we ran into the spaces, nice and aggressive." Reuters
    ROAD TO FA CUP FINAL: THIRD ROUND: January 9 - Stoke City 0 Leicester City 4 (Justin 34', Tielemans 59', Perez 79', Barnes 81'): An easy win for Leicester against second-tier Stoke, even without star turns James Maddison and Jamie Vardy. Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers said: "We have a good team that is mobile and it was about making sure we ran into the spaces, nice and aggressive." Reuters
  • Chelsea 4 (Mount 18', Werner 44', Hudson-Odoi 49', Havertz 85') Morecambe 0: A comfortable start to Chelsea's campaign sees Frank Lampard's side dispatch the League Two (fourth tier) side with two goals in each half. Timo Werner scored his first goal since November 7. Lampard said: "I'm pleased for Timo. He'd been getting into positions to score goals but they hadn't been going in for him." AFP
    Chelsea 4 (Mount 18', Werner 44', Hudson-Odoi 49', Havertz 85') Morecambe 0: A comfortable start to Chelsea's campaign sees Frank Lampard's side dispatch the League Two (fourth tier) side with two goals in each half. Timo Werner scored his first goal since November 7. Lampard said: "I'm pleased for Timo. He'd been getting into positions to score goals but they hadn't been going in for him." AFP
  • FOURTH ROUND: January 24 - Chelsea 3 (Abraham 11', 17, & 74') Luton Town 1 (Clark 30'): A win for Chelsea but not enough to prevent Frank Lampard being sacked the following day. Tammy Abraham grabbed a hat-trick, Kepa Arrizabalaga blundered for Luton's goal and Timo Werner missed a late penalty. Lampard said: "It was almost a sign of what's going on for Timo at the minute, it's not quite dropping for him." Reuters
    FOURTH ROUND: January 24 - Chelsea 3 (Abraham 11', 17, & 74') Luton Town 1 (Clark 30'): A win for Chelsea but not enough to prevent Frank Lampard being sacked the following day. Tammy Abraham grabbed a hat-trick, Kepa Arrizabalaga blundered for Luton's goal and Timo Werner missed a late penalty. Lampard said: "It was almost a sign of what's going on for Timo at the minute, it's not quite dropping for him." Reuters
  • January 24 - Brentford 1 (Bech Sorensen 7') Leicester 3 (Under 46', Tielemans pen 51', Maddison 71'): Another Championship side and another win for Leicester, although they had to come from behind to secure passage into next round this time. A goal behind and struggling at half-time, the Foxes stepped up a gear after the break. Rogers said: "It's a very good win. Brentford really tested us." Getty
    January 24 - Brentford 1 (Bech Sorensen 7') Leicester 3 (Under 46', Tielemans pen 51', Maddison 71'): Another Championship side and another win for Leicester, although they had to come from behind to secure passage into next round this time. A goal behind and struggling at half-time, the Foxes stepped up a gear after the break. Rogers said: "It's a very good win. Brentford really tested us." Getty
  • FIFTH ROUND: February 10 - Leicester 1 (Iheanacho 90+4') Brighton 0: Not the most thrilling of games with neither team managing a shot on target in the first half. While improving slightly after the break, the deadlock was not broken until substitute Kelechi Iheanacho's header in injury time. Rodgers said: "Everyone was delighted it wasn't extra time. You have to keep going and keep fighting." Getty
    FIFTH ROUND: February 10 - Leicester 1 (Iheanacho 90+4') Brighton 0: Not the most thrilling of games with neither team managing a shot on target in the first half. While improving slightly after the break, the deadlock was not broken until substitute Kelechi Iheanacho's header in injury time. Rodgers said: "Everyone was delighted it wasn't extra time. You have to keep going and keep fighting." Getty
  • February 11 - Barnsley 0 Chelsea 1 (Abraham 64'): A poor performance from the Blues, now managed by Thomas Tuchel, saw Tammy Abraham score the winner with their only attempt on target against the second-tier club. Tuchel, who made 10 changes to his starting XI, said: "Not enough courage and it was too deep for a long, long time. We can do better but I don't want to be too hard on the players." Getty
    February 11 - Barnsley 0 Chelsea 1 (Abraham 64'): A poor performance from the Blues, now managed by Thomas Tuchel, saw Tammy Abraham score the winner with their only attempt on target against the second-tier club. Tuchel, who made 10 changes to his starting XI, said: "Not enough courage and it was too deep for a long, long time. We can do better but I don't want to be too hard on the players." Getty
  • QUARTER-FINALS: March 21 - Chelsea 2 (Norwood og 24', Ziyech 90+2') Sheffield United 0: An own goal from Blades midfielder Oliver Norwood put Chelsea on their way but then had to wait until Hakim Ziyech's injury-time finish before their last-four spot was sealed. Tuchel said: "It was a tough match. We had a good first half where we controlled everything. We lost control in the second half, we were clearly tired." Reuters
    QUARTER-FINALS: March 21 - Chelsea 2 (Norwood og 24', Ziyech 90+2') Sheffield United 0: An own goal from Blades midfielder Oliver Norwood put Chelsea on their way but then had to wait until Hakim Ziyech's injury-time finish before their last-four spot was sealed. Tuchel said: "It was a tough match. We had a good first half where we controlled everything. We lost control in the second half, we were clearly tired." Reuters
  • March 21 - Leicester 3 (Iheanacho (24' & 78'), Tielemans 52') Manchester United 1 (Greenwood 38'): An excellent Leicester performance as Iheanacho made it nine goals in nine games with a fine double to shoot down United at the King Power Stadium. The Foxes had reached their first FA Cup semi-final for 39 years. Rodgers said: "It was a great team performance. Every aspect of the game was complete." Reuters
    March 21 - Leicester 3 (Iheanacho (24' & 78'), Tielemans 52') Manchester United 1 (Greenwood 38'): An excellent Leicester performance as Iheanacho made it nine goals in nine games with a fine double to shoot down United at the King Power Stadium. The Foxes had reached their first FA Cup semi-final for 39 years. Rodgers said: "It was a great team performance. Every aspect of the game was complete." Reuters
  • SEMI-FINALS: April 17 - Chelsea 1 (Ziyech 55') Manchester City 0: Chelsea stunned the Premier League champions elect and ended their dreams of an unprecedented quadruple. A single goal from Hakim Ziyech was enough to earn Chelsea victory in a tight game at Wembley. Tuchel said: "It was a very, very strong performance. I'm very happy and proud." AP
    SEMI-FINALS: April 17 - Chelsea 1 (Ziyech 55') Manchester City 0: Chelsea stunned the Premier League champions elect and ended their dreams of an unprecedented quadruple. A single goal from Hakim Ziyech was enough to earn Chelsea victory in a tight game at Wembley. Tuchel said: "It was a very, very strong performance. I'm very happy and proud." AP
  • April 18 - Leicester City 1 (Iheanacho 55') Southampton 0: Leicester reached their first FA Cup final since 1969 thanks to another goal from the in-form Iheanacho who scored his 14th goal in the competition - more than any other player in the past five seasons. Iheanacho said: "The FA Cup loves me, and I love the FA Cup. We did it together as a team. I am proud of that. Such a big dream for me." Getty
    April 18 - Leicester City 1 (Iheanacho 55') Southampton 0: Leicester reached their first FA Cup final since 1969 thanks to another goal from the in-form Iheanacho who scored his 14th goal in the competition - more than any other player in the past five seasons. Iheanacho said: "The FA Cup loves me, and I love the FA Cup. We did it together as a team. I am proud of that. Such a big dream for me." Getty

Football

FA Cup final: Chelsea and Leicester City's road to Wembley – in pictures

A look at how the two teams secured their places at Saturday's showpiece in London

Gareth Cox

May 15, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

The 140th FA Cup final kicks-off on Saturday when Chelsea take on Leicester City in the showpiece event at Wembley.

Both teams currently sit in the Premier League's top four, hoping to secure a place in next season's Champions League.

Leicester are playing in their first final since 1969 when they were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City. The Foxes have yet to lift the famous trophy, finishing runners-up on four occasions.

Chelsea have won the FA Cup eight times with only Manchester United and Arsenal – 12 and 14 victories, respectively – enjoying more success in the competition than the Blues. They have also finished runners-up six times.

Only one of those eight wins was achieved outside the Premier League era. They last lifted the cup in 2018 when they defeated Manchester United courtesy of an Eden Hazard penalty after 22 minutes.

Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers has yet to coach a team to victory in the competition, although he did reach the last-four with Liverpool in 2015, where they lost 2-1 to Aston Villa. Rodgers has won the Scottish Cup on two occasions with Glasgow Celtic.

Chelsea started the current FA Cup campaign with Frank Lampard in charge but he was sacked in January and replaced with Thomas Tuchel who is coaching in England for the first time in his career.

The German lifted the German equivalent of the FA Cup with Borussia Dortmund and twice won the French version with Paris Saint-Germain.

The picture gallery above shows each match both teams have played in this season's competition. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.

Leicester City