PREDICTION: Manchester City vs Chelsea

Manchester City vs Chelsea Predictions

We look at the big game this weekend. So the one game that stands out to us this weekend comes on Sunday afternoon when Manchester City host Premier League champions Chelsea.

Now the issue with these games coming so early on in the season is that they can be quite dull and tight affairs with neither team wanting to lose the game, so they decide to sit back and just take a point.

It happened last year and it could well happen again on Sunday. It’s a common thing when two big teams take each other on early in the campaign, especially when Jose Mourinho‘s Chelsea are involved.

But lets take a look at the match and put down some predictions in terms of team-news and match results for the game.

Manchester City vs Chelsea Match Preview

So the two teams go into the game having played one competitive game each in this season’s Premier League.

Chelsea, who will look to retain their title, kicked their season off with a 2-2 draw at home to Swansea City on Saturday evening at Stamford Bridge.

It wasn’t the ideal start for The Blues as they were pegged back twice during the game and even lost their number-one goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois as he was sent off in the second-half.

More controversy after the game followed due to a falling out between Mourinho and his medical staff, in particular Eva Caneiro, so it wasn’t the start they would have wanted.

As for Manchester City, it was a completely opposite first game for them.

They eased past West Bromwich Albion 3-0 on Monday night at The Hawthorns stadium thanks to a brace from Yaya Toure.

A lot of doubt has been cast over Manuel Pellegrini and City going into this season, but they started their campaign on hot-form and will want that to continue on Sunday.

***WIN £70 – £90 ***

CHELSEA are a HUGE 8/1 to beat MAN CITY! Bet £10 win £90! -> Bet Here

MAN CITY a HUGE 6/1 to beat CHELSEA! Bet £10 win £70! -> Bet Here

Team News/Predictions

So what is the team news going into the game?

Well Chelsea will be missing Courtois after his red-card appeal was turned down, so he is bound to miss the match and will be replaced by new summer signing Asmir Begovic.

Apart from that however, both Chelsea and City will have full teams to pick from, but with tactics a massive part of a game like this, we could see some changes in the line-ups, especially in Chelsea’s.

Having said this, we believe City will reintroduce Pablo Zabaleta and Sergio Aguero into the starting XI after they were on the bench for the Monday night game.

Here is how we have the two teams lining up

Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Mangala, Kompany, Kolarov, Yaya Toure, Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Silva, Sterling, Aguero

Chelsea: Begovic, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Mikel, Matic, Fabregas, Oscar, Hazard, Costa

So as you can see, in the City team we have put Zabaleta over Bacary Sagna, and Aguero back in the starting XI over Wilfried Bony.

As for Chelsea, we have taken one attacking-midfielder out and replaced him with another centre-midfielder in John Obi Mikel. It’s what Mourinho did last year for his starting XI at the Etihad Stadium and we think he will do the same this time around as well.

***WIN £70 – £90 ***

CHELSEA are a HUGE 8/1 to beat MAN CITY! Bet £10 win £90! -> Bet Here

MAN CITY a HUGE 6/1 to beat CHELSEA! Bet £10 win £70! -> Bet Here

Score Prediction

It’s always tough predicting scores when it’s two massive teams going head-to-head and even harder when it’s the second game of the Premier League campaign.

Baring that in mind, we are going to sit on the fence and say it will be a stalemate with neither side wanting to lose the game and both sides being happy with a point.

Match Prediction: 0-0

So there is our preview of Manchester City vs Chelsea for this Sunday.

What are your thoughts on the game? Comment below!

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt