Man City vs Chelsea Preview, Team News, Likely Line-ups & Predicted Score
Manchester City welcome Chelsea to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon looking to keep alive their slim hopes of retaining their Premier League title.
Roberto Mancini’s men are clinging to the coat-tails of run-away leaders Manchester United after a run of three games without a win has seen City fall 15 points behind their rivals – who beat Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Saturday afternoon.
City were beaten 3-1 by Southampton last time out in the league but got back to winning ways with a 4-0 win over Leeds United in the FA Cup last weekend so Mancini will be hoping to build on that performance.
Chelsea arrive at the Etihad knowing victory would not only end City’s title dreams this season but would move the Londoners to within a single point of the hosts and put themselves very much in the frame for second place.
Rafa Benitez’ men will be confident they can resign City to only their second home defeat of the season with Chelsea boasting the second best away record in the division, and head into the game off the back of Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Sparta Prague that saw them qualify for the last 16 of the competition.
Team News
City are sweating on the fitness of captain Vincent Kompany with the defender struggling to overcome a calf problem that has kept him on the sidelines for the last four games. He will be given a late fitness test but is expected to return to partner Matija Nastasic in central defence.
Midfielder Gareth Barry is also a doubt with an ankle problem and could miss out, while Carlos Tevez is likely to start up front with Sergio Aguero in support.
Chelsea are expected to recall Frank Lampard and Branislav Ivanovic for the game after resting the duo in midweek. John Terry will be hoping to retain his place at the back while David Luiz could start in midfield.
Ashley Cole is also expected to be restored at left-back while Demba Ba should get the nod up front at the expense of Fernando Torres.
Likely Line-ups
Predicted Score
Man City have the upper-hand in recent times against Chelsea, winning their last three home games against the Blues. While both sides will be desperate for all three points we can see this one ending in a stalemate. Man City 1-1 Chelsea
What would be your starting line-up and what’s you score prediction for the game? Get involved in the comments section below.
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Bface
February 24, 2013 at 7:02 am
By d special grace of God that I served, chelsea will beat man city. Wil love Moses 2 start in d expense of Oscar,but whoever start either Moses or Oscar, am okey with that.I Wish chelsea best of luck. We shall come back home with 3points in Jesus name, somebody shout Amen! Blues 4 life.
godswill
February 24, 2013 at 7:35 am
Mancity 2-1 chelsea………. Give it 2 mancity but chelsea will put a good fight.
godswill
February 24, 2013 at 7:37 am
Up city
jon
February 24, 2013 at 7:44 am
my prefered line up
1.Cech
2.Azpi 5.Cahil 6.Terry 3.Cole
4.Mikel 8.Ramires
7.Moses 10.Mata 11.Hazard
9.Ba
2 ivanovic has been shaky recently owìng to the fact he had been played out of position at times.
4 i know lampard plays 8, but in a strong game like this, if u play lampard &ramires who both love going farward, u may be destroyed on a counte,.. For a game that will be played in high pace, lampard will be caught culprit, because u cant expect him track back as fast as needed, and given the fact that he has a record to break, he will do many things for himself than the team. But mikel will sit back, and even if ramires runs forward to help in attack i expect him to return faster than lampard.. In all, if our forward play their best today, chelsea will win regardless of who starts in the DM positiön.
babagana ali
February 24, 2013 at 7:51 am
give it to chelsea, the game will end 3-2 in favour of chelsea up bluessssss
Maduabuchukwu obama
February 24, 2013 at 7:52 am
I will give it to chelsea 2:1. Meaning chelsea 2 man city 1
Alec
February 24, 2013 at 8:04 am
Chelsea only needs to opt ramires on the right wing then they’l av it.
Eugene
February 24, 2013 at 8:28 am
If chelsea want to beat Man city the line up should be: cech, terry, ashley, ivanovich, lampard, mikel, mata, hazard, oscar, moses and Ba. I promise u the best away record against city. Good luck
FBI kings
February 24, 2013 at 8:29 am
manCity 0-0 Chelsea. It wil b a very difficult game
chuks
February 24, 2013 at 9:01 am
I giv it up 2chelsea,3-1
mike
February 24, 2013 at 9:21 am
i gave it up to chelsea fc 3:2 man city
Manc
February 24, 2013 at 9:21 am
Pressures on for the Stockport fans, chelsea have eyes on that 2nd spot..
Great to hear from Manchini that United have been lucky all season. That’s it son, who concentrate on on us 🙂
Sanusi olayinka
February 24, 2013 at 9:28 am
If chelsea want 2 win man city chelsea start up line:cech,cahill,ivanovic,cole,azppq,ramires,lampard,oscar,mata,Harzzard,Ba.
Sanusi olayinka
February 24, 2013 at 9:30 am
Man city 1 chelsea 2
ADEBAYO SODIQ
February 24, 2013 at 9:36 am
CHELSEA CUD WIN ABOVE DIS SCORE OR BELOW IT.TO ME MY OWN PREDICTION I S ALL ABT CHELSEA IT MAY BE 2-0 OR 2-1.
kokomiwa
February 24, 2013 at 10:38 am
Chelsea is going to carry the day, 3:1 in favour of chelsea… My lineups goes like dis. Cech, Azuplicuata, JT, Cahill, A Cole,
Mike, Rami,
Moses, Mata Hazard
Demba ba
this way Chelsea is going win the game..
Ogbo Blessing
February 24, 2013 at 10:53 am
Man City would win ‘cos they have image to protect. What do the nosey Chelsea have?
Ogbo Blessing
February 24, 2013 at 10:55 am
Man City would win ‘cos they have image to protect. What do the nosey Chelsea have?
Guys, wake up!
Ogbo Blessing
February 24, 2013 at 10:57 am
Man City wil win ‘cos they hv image 2 protect. What do d nosey Chelsea hv?
RAJI KAMALDEEN FERANMY
February 24, 2013 at 10:57 am
My probable line up goes this way,
cech,
Ash.cole,Luiz,Terry,Ivanovic
Mikel oscar,mata,lampard
hazard,Ba.
Ogbo Blessing
February 24, 2013 at 10:58 am
Man City’l win ‘cos dey hv record 2 protect.Wt do d nosey Chelsea hv?
kizza david
February 24, 2013 at 11:06 am
chelsea MUST win this fixture,i go for a 2-1 score infavour of chelsea.Lampard wil score
kizza david
February 24, 2013 at 11:07 am
chelsea MUST win this fixture,i go for a 2-1 score infavour of chelsea
titilayo olasubomi bashiru
February 24, 2013 at 11:12 am
chelsea is going to win by 4 goals to 1
blueinlagos
February 24, 2013 at 12:12 pm
how could u have a strong chelsea team witout ramires.
wisdom
February 24, 2013 at 12:33 pm
chelsea all de way. Chelsea will win. Man city 1-3 Chelsea.