Date: Saturday 25th
January 2025
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
Today’s late game sees us travel to the Etihad to face the
Premier League Champions.
Chelsea ended a five-game winless run in the Premier League
to beat Wolves in our last game and start the day 2 points ahead of today’s
opponents. However, we haven’t beaten City in any of the last 10 meetings across
all competitions since beating them in the 2021 Champions League final. We also
go into today’s game without a win in our last three games away from home.
After what seemed more than a little blip in their season, Manchester
City look to have picked themselves up again, battering Ipswich 6-0 last time
out in the Premier League, although they did let a 2-goal lead slip against PSG
midweek, to finish with a 4-2 defeat. They’ve also lost each of their last
three Premier League games immediately after a European midweek match, but if
today is another one of those master v apprentice scenarios, Maresca’s no Luke
Skywalker.
.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into
tonight’s game, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, says “Really
important. We are very close in the table, even with the big, big problems we
had in the recent past. The next two games are really, really important –
finals for us. Our people will support us.”
Enzo
Maresca, meanwhile, says “Everyone is talking about how we get more points
away from home, but I don’t think the difference is big between home and away,
and it shows how the team is balanced home and away. We don’t care if we’re at
home or away. Hopefully, in the future, we can get more points at home, this is
the target, but overall it’s something good because it shows how the team is at
the moment in terms of balance.
If
you see the top six at this moment, we beat Bournemouth away and drew at home. We
beat Newcastle at home and still have to play there. We drew against Arsenal
and we lost to Liverpool and City. It’s a matter of balance. We are going to
win games against big teams for sure, but I don’t think if we win tomorrow that
means we’re ready for the title. For sure we are going to try to win tomorrow,
but it will be one more game.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Manchester City, Jeremy Doku, Ruben
Dias, Nathan Ake, Oscar Bobb and Rodri are ruled out, whilst new signings Omar
Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov will be in the squad.
For Chelsea, Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana,
Benoit Badiashile and Mykhaylo remain out. Levi Colwill and Enzo Fernandez
could both return.
TEAMS
MANCHESTER
CITY (Possible line-up): Ortega;
Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Bernardo; Foden, De Bruyne, Savinho;
Haaland
CHELSEA
(Possible line-up): Sanchez;
Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Dewsbury-Hall, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Sancho;
Jackson
LAST SEASON
Manchester City 1-1
Chelsea (17th February 2024)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
Manchester City: LDWWDW
Chelsea: DLLDDW
OTHER STUFF
- Chelsea are without a win in 10 league and cup games against
Manchester.
- Chelsea’s only clean sheet in their previous 16 top-flight games at
the Etihad was 11 years ago.
- Both of last season’s meetings ended in draws.
- Manchester City have taken 10 points from the last 12 available,
scoring a total of 14 goals.
- Chelsea won six of their first eight away league games this season
but are without a win in their subsequent three, scoring just once.
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Manchester City 2-2 Chelsea