NEXT STOP: ISTANBUL

SportsBeat!

Written by Aaron Cantin

If you were hoping for an outstanding comeback or at least extra time, clearly you're disappointed. I know I was. The two better teams deserved to move on, and there's no denying that. It would have been entertaining as a neutral spectator if PSG or Real Madrid put the pressure on. Regardless, we're set up with an-all English affair this time between Manchester City and Chelsea FC. Let's go over how these two got here and look at what lies ahead.

Source: Photo from UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Manchester City 2 - 0 PSG (City advance 4-1)

The big news heading into this one was the health of PSG striker Kylian Mbappe. The French striker missed out over the weekend and was a doubt leading into Tuesday. When the lineups were announced, we learned Mbappe would be on the bench to start. Not the news PSG fans were hoping for but still provided hope he could make an appearance. Unfortunately, he did not, and PSG paid the full price. The front three of Neymar, Icardi, and Di Maria would usually be enough to generate scoring chances, but it was not on Tuesday. Neymar played great, not just attacking but defensively and keeping his composure when the rest of his team did not.

It took just eleven minutes for City to find the net. This time it was Riyad Mahrez cooly sliding the ball under a diving Navas in net. 1-0 City. This was not the worst for Paris at this stage. They still needed to score two goals only now. It would mean extra time instead of advancing. The match was far from out of reach. PSG maintained possession for most of the first half and the second but did not generate any real scoring chances after City scored. Then in the 63rd minute, who else but Mayrez again taps it into an empty net to put the fixture to sleep.

This is when PSG started getting ugly. All but eliminated, PSG did not play with a sense of urgency but rather a sense of ruthlessness, something that should not be tolerated and should receive punishment. This was shown again in the 69th minute when PSG forward Di Maria immaturely stomped on Fernandinho's foot when picking up the ball for a throw-in. Straight red. Good night. In the end, PSG did not even get a shot on target. City showed their depth while PSG showed their weaknesses. City march on to their first-ever Champions League final.

Chelsea 2 - 0 Real Madrid (Chelsea advance 3-1)

I don't say this often, but Real Madrid was heavily outplayed and was undoubtedly the second-best team between the two. Chelsea dominated the first leg but was only able to come away with a draw. This led me, and many others, to believe Chelsea failed to take advantage of their opportunity, and Real Madrid will surely make them pay in the second leg. They did not. Wednesday night was more of the same, and this time the scoreline reflected that. A solid two-nil win.

Real Madrid dominated possession in this one but, much like PSG vs City, failing to produce any real scoring opportunities. Chelsea broke the deadlock in the 28th minute when midfielder Ngolo Kante made a direct run on net, played it into Kai Havertz's run who chipped it over the keeper, bounced off the bar, and found Timo Werner waiting for it to head it in the net. The easiest goal Werner will ever score. The match did not change much after that. More Real Madrid passing from left to right but nothing on the net or finding a way to get the ball in Chelsea's box.

Since Thomas Tuchel took over the reins in Chelsea back in January, Chelsea has been very difficult to score against. They have speed in Pulisic, Jones, and Werner to counter-attack and get players behind the ball to defend as a team better than anyone else. That's a dangerous combination for opposing teams. In the 85th minute, it was confirmed when Kante forced a turnover deep in Madrid's zone, played it into Pulisic's run, who patiently found Mason Mount to tuck it home. That's all she wrote. Tuchel is taking his team to the Champions League final after taking over less than six months ago. A story no one would have believed if told at the beginning of the season. Even more miraculously, Chelsea may need to win in order to qualify for the Champions League next season, proof of how poorly they were playing in the English Premier League before Tuchel took over.

Chelsea vs Manchester City

• When: Saturday, May 29 at 15:00 EST

• Where: Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey

Manchester City opens as the favourite, unsurprisingly heading into this one. What is surprising is how little of a favourite. Opening at -105 to win in regulation, I guarantee this will be the best price you will get from now until matchday for City to win in 90 minutes. Chelsea comes in at +300 to lift the trophy. I think that's fair.

It should be noted, Chelsea has been the only team all season to really hurt City, eliminating them in the FA Cup semi-finals a couple of weeks ago. That has been the only flaw in City's entire campaign. Believe it or not, these two teams play this Saturday in the English Premier League, and if City win, they win the title. These two clubs are going to make a lot of history in the next couple of weeks together. Of course, I will have an in-depth Champions League finals preview heading into the grand finale.