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Manchester United vs Chelsea: 3 battles that will decide the game

Manchester United v Chelsea - Premier League
Who will come out on top?

All eyes turn to Wembley this Saturday as the stadium hosts the showpiece battle between Manchester United and Chelsea in the 2018 Emirates FA Cup final.

Manchester United qualified after beating Tottenham 2-1 in thrilling fashion in the semi-final while Chelsea were resilient enough to beat Southampton 2-0.

The competition is both team's last chance of winning silverware this season and the tempers are sure to fly high in this feisty affair.

Mourinho has a majestic track record in cup finals, having lost just twice in 14 finals and given his astute ability to carve out results, the odds may slightly favour him.

Antonio Conte, however, is yet to win a cup in his managerial career and will be adamant to set that record straight when he sets his team out, in what could possibly be his final game in charge of the club.

So, ahead of the final, we look at 3 individual battles that will influence the game and may help decide the winner of the grand prize:


#3 Romelu Lukaku vs Gary Cahill

Chelsea v Manchester United - Premier League
A battle to watch out for

Romelu Lukaku has travelled with the squad to London after being sidelined for almost 2 weeks with a foot injury and is expected to start the game.

It is fair to say that United have missed his aerial presence high up the pitch as they have struggled a bit of late. Lukaku played a starring role when the two sides met in February as he scored their equaliser and provided the assist for Jesse Lingard to score the winner.

He will be itching to get his hand on his first trophy in England and will want to come out all guns blazing.

The man presented with the task to contain the big Belgian is likely to be Gary Cahill, who, since the turn of the year has been a man in form and as a result has been included in England's squad for the World Cup as well.

The aerial duel between the two will be one to watch out for as Lukaku will be handed the task of winning the battle, holding up the ball and dispatching it to his runners. Cahill, though, is experienced and skilled enough to try and nullify any influence the striker can make.

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