Chelsea vs Manchester City – English Premier League – Preview

Posted on April 16, 2016 by Sreya

Chelsea hosts Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on 16th April, Saturday as the English Premier League enters it business end. While Chelsea are chasing an Europa League spot trying to finish strongly after a disastrous domestic season, Manchester City are fighting for an UEFA Champions League position.

With Leicester City all but winning the Premiership, Manuel Pellegrini must ensure City finish ahead of their local rivals Manchester United, who are only four points behind them at this stage.

Manchester City are on the fourth position with fifty seven points from seventeen wins while Chelsea are on the tenth position with only forty four points from their ten wins in the season so far. Manchester City won their last Premier League match against West Bromwich Albion while Chelsea suffered a 1-0 loss at Swansea City.

Team News

Kurt Zouma, Loic Remy and John Terry are the long-term absentees for Chelsea while Kenedy, Eden Hazard and Willian have been listed as doubts. Diego Costa is set to return to the starting lineup after serving a two-game suspension, as is Gary Cahill who has recuperated from his injury.

Raheem Sterling is sidelined through an injury and Vincent Kompany will face a late fitness test, but is unlikely to start the match.

Chelsea Possible Starting Lineup: Thibaut Courtois, Cesar Azpilicueta, Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, Kenedy, John Obi Mikel, Cesc Fabregas, Oscar, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Alexander Pato, Diego Costa.

Manchester City Possible Starting Lineup: Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Elaquim Mangala, Nicolas Otamendi, Gael Clichy, Fernando, Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva, Sergio Aguero.

Thoughts From Both Camps

“City have had a beautiful week after getting in to the semi-finals. It’s good for them to be in the last four and it’s a reward for their efforts over the last seasons.

Their team is getting into a certain flow of success and results so they’ll like to continue it. It’s encouraging for them and for us it is another reason why we expect very strong opposition.”

– Guus Hiddink, Chelsea.

“The important thing is it depends on us what we do to be in the third or fourth position. We cannot talk more about the other two positions because that doesn’t just depend on what we do.”

– Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City.

Contributor’s Pick

According to Head-2-Head statistics, the previous six matches between these two clubs have resulted in two wins, two losses and two draws for either side. Although Chelsea have drawn six of their last seven home games in the league, Manchester City are likely to win this particular fixture, with 2-1 in favor of the visitors being the most probable result