Ace Football previews the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City, and offers betting tips, odds, line-ups, and team news.
Manchester City head to Stamford Bridge on Sunday evening for a showdown with Chelsea in the Premier League.
The COVID-19 outbreak in City’s squad last Monday, which caused the club’s game with Everton to be postponed, had raised doubts for this fixture. But, as there have been no further positive cases from the visitors so far, the match will go ahead.
It should prove to be a challenging affair for both sides. An in-form City may be more rested than their opponents, but how will they cope without the five players who have to self-isolate? Chelsea, on the other hand, desperately need to capitalize. If not, it could effectively throw any title aspirations out of the window.
Chelsea Form & Stats
Frank Lampard has perhaps entered the biggest test of his young managerial career. In light of a summer ladened with expensive high-profile transfers, the Blues boss is under pressure like never before. Not all his signings, namely Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, have hit the ground running. Results, meanwhile, have taken a turn for the worst recently.
One win in five games (D1 L3) last month caused Chelsea to slip from third-place down to sixth in the Premier League table. The gap between them and pacesetters Liverpool, meanwhile, rose from a mere two points to seven. If they lose any more ground in January, a seventh league title could be out of the question.
But there is plenty to suggest Chelsea will overcome this blip in form. The club had gone nine league games unbeaten (W5 D4) before their barren run. And even while things have hit a rough patch lately, Lampard’s men have only failed to score once in their last six league matches and boast the league’s second-best home record (W4 D3 L1).
Their past encounters with Manchester City, meanwhile, have been a close affair. But they have won three of their last four league games (L1) at Stamford Bridge against the Citizens and won the last encounter 2-1 in June.
Key Team Stats
- Lost 3 of their last five league games (W1 D1).
- Won 10 of their last 14 home league games (D3 L1).
- Won 3 of their last 4 home league games against Manchester City.
- Failed to win their opening league fixture in each of their last four calendar years.
- Timo Werner has failed to score in his last 11 games in all competitions.
- Olivier Giroud has scored in 3 of his last 4 league appearances.
Manchester City Form & Stats
City, alongside local rivals Manchester United, are the Premier League’s most in-form team. They’ve won four of their last six fixtures (D2), scoring 11 goals and conceding just once, to move level on 26 points with sixth-place Chelsea in the standings, albeit behind in eighth due to an inferior goal difference.
This recent resurgence hasn’t led to many goals, though. City have scored more than once in a game in only one of their last four fixtures, with Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus having had long spells on the sidelines. In fact, the latter is one of five players unavailable for the trip to London after a positive COVID-19 test.
But while they have been a little cold on the goal trail lately, Pep Guardiola’s side have improved defensively. They boast a league-best of only 12 goals conceded this season and have kept five clean sheets in their last six outings.
The six-time English champions are growing in confidence and will fancy their chances at Stamford Bridge on Sunday evening.
Key Team Stats
- Unbeaten in their last 10 games in all competitions (W7 D3).
- Kept 5 clean sheets in their last 6 league games.
- Scored first-half goals in 18 of their 23 games in all competitions this season.
- Lost just once after scoring the first goal this season.
- Sergio Aguero has failed to score in his last 10 league games.
Team News
Chelsea
Out: Reece James.
Doubts: Hakim Ziyech.
Manchester City
Out: Kyle Walker, Gabriel Jesus, Ederson, Eric Garcia.
Doubts: Ilkay Gundogan.
Predicted Line-ups
(Note: The image will change to the official XI once they’re both announced)
Top Goalscorers in Premier League
Head-To-Head Record
Below are some head-to-head stats on each team’s recent form in the Premier League.
Match Facts
Betting Tips
More Odds
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