Stamford Bridge will play host to what looks like the greatest game of the season as Chelsea and Manchester City lock horn in a top-of-table clash- a match which could go a long way in determining the destination of the most converted trophy in English football. This is a Chelsea tickets holders and non season ticket holders alike will be hoping their team can win.
Chelsea sit top of the EPL table with 52 points and a win over City will see them open an 8 point gap to their rival who is currently 2nd on the log with 47 points. While a defeat for City could see an end to their title hopes in all realism, a win for them will however, throw the league title open once again.
The preceding week has been one of mixed fortune for Jose Mourinho side. From being knocked out of the FA cup by a 2nd division side Bradford which automatically killed off any ambition of a quadruple to beating bitter rival Liverpool to this year’s Capital One Cup final. From FA £25,000 fine on Mourinho for his Campaign against Chelsea rant to Diego Costa’s three match ban for a stamp on Liverpool’s Emre Can during the Capital One Cup game at Stamford Bridge midweek.
Team News:
Both teams will come into the match hoping to take advantage of each other’s perceived weaknesses. A couple of key players could be missing in action for both side due to injuries, suspensions and national engagements and that will to a greater extent dictate how both side files out in this top-of-table clash.
Chelsea’s prolific striker and EPL leading goal scorer Diego Costa will miss the match and that will be a huge loss for Chelsea. Costa is suspended after receiving a three match ban from the FA for his troubles on Emre Can in the Liverpool game- a move that have courted many controversies over the media depending on the side of the table you are.
Cesc Fabregas is also a doubt after picking up what looks like a slight hamstring injury against Liverpool. Though he had a light training session with the rest of the squad Thursday and Friday, he will need a late assessment from the medics to determine if he can be part of today’s game. Full backs Ivanovic and Filippe Luis are also a doubt as both players are nursing one injury or the other but could be force to play through the pain barrier.
Every other member of the squad should be up for this game except for Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah who are on the verge of completing a deal out of the club.
Chelsea Probable Line-up: Courtios, Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas, Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Drogba.
City on their part will be without the services of their mercurial midfielder Yaya Toure as well as that of their new recruit Wilfred Bonny. Both players are currently with Ivory Coast for the Afcon 2015 in Equatorial Guinea where they are due to face Algeria in one of the quarter finals of the tournament.
Sami Nasri will need a late fitness test to prove his readiness for this game after the French man just returned to training after recovering from a calf injury. City should have the bulk of their players available for this game.
Manchester City Probable Line-up: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demechelis, Clichy, Fernando, Fernandinho, Navas, Milner, Silva, Aguero.
Form Guide
Both teams have had a mixed fortune in form at the turn of the New Year.
Manchester City who were level on point with Chelsea on new year day have had a five point gap opened between them and the Blues within the month after picking only a draw with Everton and going on to lose to Arsenal in subsequent game at the Etihad. The Citizens were also knocked out of the FA cup by championship side Middlesbrough at the Etihad and that means they have only managed two wins in their last five games in all competitions. Not a good form by their own standard.
Chelsea on the other hand have picked up in the league after the New Year humiliation at White Heart Lane against Tottenham Hotspurs. The team have dispatched Newcastle as well as Swansea with relative ease but were dealt the surprise of their life by Bradford City in the FA cup after loosing to the 2nd division side 4-2 at Stamford Bridge.
Head-to-Head And Stats.
Chelsea has most won over Manchester City in the Premier League (22 wins- same as Arsenal)
Chelsea have won four, drawn two and lost two of their last eight premier league meetings with Manchester City. Jose Mourinho has lost just 2 and won 7 out of 11 meetings as a manager with Manuel Pellegrinni.
The Blues have kept 8 clean sheets in their last 11 premier league outings, including the last five in a row at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea has a 100% winning record at Stamford Bridge this season.
Players to Watch
Both teams will be missing key players in Diego Costa and Yaya Toure but the clubs have well enough quality players that can light up the day.
Eden Hazard will be a man Pablo Zabaleta and Kompany would need to keep eyes on every minute of the game. With Diego Costa’s suspension, Hazard will be the man to terrorise the City defence with his pace, quick turns, dribble and tricks. He has been a handful for opposition defenders and City will do themselves a great benefit not allow the young Belgian space. Matic form also could be the key to winning this game for Chelsea.
For the Citizens, Silva and not Aguero will be the man to watch out for. The Spaniard is gradually nearing his devastating best. His ability to drift around the edge of the box looking for pockets of space will be something Matic and whoever gets to play with him in the double pivot will need to keep an eye on. Silva could be dangerous when allow to drift into those pockets of space as his intricate passes to Aguero could leave the Chelsea defence gasping for breath. Aguero, having played a couple of game after returning from injury should be nearing match fitness and would need an eye kept on him by Terry and young Zouma if he is given the nod ahead of Cahill.
Prediction:
There is no doubting the huge influence suspended Costa would have in this game if he were to play. With Costa, my prediction would have been a Chelsea straight win. Manchester City cannot be discarded with a wave of hand irrespective of their recent form. They are always a big team and coming up against title rivals Chelsea have one way of motivating the players to raise their game.
Do not expect City to make those mistakes that characterised their loss to Middlesbrough last weekend. With Costa and Yaya out of the mix I’d go for a score draw for this game.
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