The Matchday 23 encounter in the Premier League between Manchester City and Chelsea will take place on January 25 at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City vs. Chelsea: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Referee: John Brooks (England)
Matches – 10 (Premier League, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 53;
Average yellow cards per match – 5.3;
Red cards shown – 0;
Average fouls per match – 24;
Penalties – 20%.
Predicted lineups for Manchester City vs. Chelsea
Manchester City (3-2-4-1): Stefan Ortega – Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji – Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes – Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku – Erling Haaland.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Robert Sanchez – Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Cucurella, Reece James – Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Moises Caicedo – Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke – Nicolas Jackson.
Each team's starting lineup from their last match in this tournament is indicated.
Manchester City
The Mancunians are unbeaten in the league for five matches, securing three wins and two draws. In the last round, they thrashed Ipswich 6-0 away, marking their biggest victory in the current championship. Pep Guardiola's side is currently in fifth place, just two points behind the Champions League zone.
The club recently signed another promising young defender, Vitor Reis, from Palmeiras. Meanwhile, defender Kyle Walker is leaving the club to join AC Milan. There are also injury concerns: forwards Jeremy Doku and Oscar Bobb, as well as defenders Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake, and midfielder Rodri Hernandez.
- At least three goals have been scored in 7 of Manchester City's last 9 Premier League games.
- Both teams scored in 6 of the last 8 league matches for the Citizens.
- Two or more goals were scored in the first half in 10 of the club's last 12 Premier League fixtures.
Chelsea
The Londoners secured a much-needed victory in the last round, defeating Wolverhampton 3-1 at home. Prior to this, the club had gone five consecutive league matches without a win (3 draws and 2 losses). This victory allowed them to return to the Champions League zone. However, Manchester City and Newcastle are close behind, trailing by just two points. Notably, Chelsea has scored as many goals as the Citizens (44), ranking third in scoring among all Premier League clubs.
Due to injuries, midfielder Romeo Lavia and defenders Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile are sidelined. Forward Mykhailo Mudryk continues to serve a suspension following a failed doping test. Meanwhile, midfielder Renato Veiga is moving to Juventus.
- Both teams scored in 14 of Chelsea's last 17 league games.
- At least three goals have been scored in 8 of Chelsea's last 11 Premier League matches.
Manchester City vs. Chelsea: Match Prediction
Judging by recent results, Manchester City seems to have overcome their crisis. They have won three and drawn one of their last four Premier League matches, with two of those victories being by large margins. Such results should boost the confidence of Pep Guardiola's team, which is crucial as they face four consecutive matches against their closest rivals in the battle for a Champions League spot.
Chelsea, although victorious in the last round, has yet to convince that they are ready to fight for a top-four finish. The team had a favorable schedule in the last six Premier League matches but managed to defeat only the club with the worst defense in the league. Chelsea's last three away matches in the Premier League highlight their struggles: draws with Everton and Crystal Palace, and a loss to Ipswich. Enzo Maresca's side dropped points even against outsiders, so they are unlikely to handle Manchester City. It's also worth noting that the Citizens have won 5 of the last 7 head-to-head league encounters (with two draws).
My prediction – Manchester City Win
