Verdict: Manchester City half-time/full-time
Best Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: Dachbet
Knowing that they will formally retain their Premier League crown this weekend, Manchester City will welcome a struggling Chelsea to the Etihad on Sunday afternoon.
Manchester City
Starting with the hosts, making a significant Champions League assertion earlier within the week as they cruised their solution to solely a second European closing, the temper in Manchester City’s camp is at a red-hot excessive. Eventually storming their solution to a well-known 4-0 romp towards Real Madrid, Pep Guardiola’s high-flying squad have continued on a exceptional purple patch. Knowing that they will formally defend their Premier League crown this weekend, the ex-Barcelona boss finds his facet within the midst of a 23-match unbeaten run throughout all competitions. With that prolonged romp stemming all the way in which again to a 1-0 loss away at Tottenham on February fifth, the Sky Blues are using a well-known wave of momentum. Now sat in pole place to turn into the primary Premier League membership since 1999 to finish a home and European sweep, Guardiola’s facet will merely be trying to lay down one other marker this weekend. Really gaining a fame for his or her free-scoring shows within the closing third, City must be relishing Chelsea’s arrival on the Etihad right here.
Team News
Manchester City have already confirmed that one-time Chelsea starlet Nathan Ake will as soon as once more miss out as a consequence of a hamstring damage. However, except for the Dutch worldwide, Guardiola has reported no recent damage considerations.
Notching 4 objectives in his final two Premier League appearances, Ilkay Gundogan will companion Rodri in the midst of the park. Kevin De Bruyne could possibly be handed a relaxation on Sunday afternoon.
Chelsea
As for the guests, whereas Chelsea may need claimed a vital 3-1 win away at Bournemouth on May sixth, it seems that was nothing greater than a minor increase. Struggling to seek out any sort of stability since they welcomed Frank Lampard again to Stamford Bridge, the Blues have solely continued on a nightmare run of type. Opening May with a 3-1 drumming away at London rivals Arsenal, Chelsea have already accepted that they should accept a woeful bottom-half end in 2023. Despite actually breaking the financial institution over the previous two switch home windows, Lampard’s short-term squad have recorded only a single victory from any of their final 11 straight appearances throughout all competitions. With that nightmare run stemming all the way in which again to a 3-1 victory towards Leicester on March eleventh, Sunday’s visitors will know that they face a monumental problem on the Etihad right here. It’s additionally value highlighting, Chelsea suffered a 4-0 drumming after they traveled to Manchester for an FA Cup showdown on January eighth.
Team News
Suffering one more damage setback this month, midfield talisman N’Golo Kante will miss the rest of the season. Likewise, Lampard can be unable to name upon Benoit Badiashile, Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella, Reece James and Mason Mount right here.
While former Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly may need not too long ago returned to first-team coaching, the Senegal worldwide is just not anticipated to function on the Etihad.
Key Factors to Consider
- When the 2 sides final met on January eighth whereas on FA Cup duties, Manchester City claimed a 4-0 romp on the Etihad.
- Likewise, the defending Premier League champions have gained every of their final 5 straight conferences towards Chelsea.
- Lampard’s struggling squad have remarkably claimed only a single win from any of their final 11 straight appearances throughout all competitions.
- Sunday’s visitors have recorded only one Premier League clear sheet for the reason that begin of March.
- Manchester City are unbeaten in every of their final 23 straight appearances throughout all competitions – a run that stems all the way in which again to February fifth.
Conclusion
Punching their Champions League closing ticket with a rampant show towards Real Madrid earlier within the week, Manchester City will merely be trying to end off their Premier League romp right here. Knowing that three factors on Sunday afternoon will see them formally defend their home crown, Guardiola’s high-flying squad are using what has been a well-known wave of momentum. Unbeaten in every of their final 23 straight appearances throughout all competitions, the Sky Blues have their sights firmly set on making heavyweight historical past in 2023. Claiming a 4-0 romp after they welcomed Chelsea to the Etihad for an FA Cup showdown on January eighth, it’s onerous to see something apart from an identical end result right here.
Verdict: Manchester City half-time/full-time
Best Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: Dachbet
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