Chelsea vs Manchester City Key Stats
- Chelsea have won each of their three meetings with Man City under Thomas Tuchel.
- Under 2.5 goals were scored in two of the last three meetings between the clubs.
- Chelsea have won eight of their last 11 Premier League fixtures.
- Chelsea have only conceded one goal in their first five Premier League matches this season.
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Chelsea vs Manchester City Match Preview
Most observers had tipped Chelsea to threaten Manchester City’s Premier League dominance this season and the Blues have certainly started the 2021/22 campaign like genuine title contenders.
Despite being dealt a tough early hand by the fixture computer, Chelsea sit at the summit of the table ahead of their clash with City on Saturday, having collected an impressive 13 points from the first 15 on offer.
Incredibly, the watertight Blues conceded just one goal in their five league assignments since the summer as Thomas Tuchel’s tactical mastery continues to reap dividends.
Indeed, the German’s nous allowed Chelsea to upset the odds against Man City in last season’s Champions League final, just as it did in the clubs’ previous two meetings in league and cup shortly before.
In fact, Tuchel has got the better of his counterpart Pep Guardiola in each of Chelsea and Manchester City’s three tussles since the ex-PSG boss inked his deal at Stamford Bridge back in January.
The Cityzens’ title-defense hasn’t had the smoothest of beginnings and the Manchester giants dropped points for the second time this term when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Southampton on Saturday.
City look labored in the final third and ran quickly out of ideas against the robust Saints, and there were some worrying signs on display ahead of their test against a Chelsea backline that has look impenetrable at times.
Saturday’s showpiece showdown is a chance for the Cityzens to re-establish themselves as the division’s most formidable force, though Chelsea and Tuchel have the tools to make light of their tag as underdogs again.
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Chelsea vs Manchester City Picks
Chelsea to Win +170 (DraftKings)
Tuchel’s record against Pep Guardiola since the German tactician took the reins at the club is difficult to ignore. The former Dortmund manager seems to have a hugely effective formula for games against City and the Blues could upset the odds against the champions again on Saturday.
The Cityzens have looked a little vulnerable away from The Etihad this season and they have scored just once in two league games on the road combined since the end of the summer.
Chelsea are supremely well-organised out of possession and they could frustrate City’s pattern-based attacking maneuvres at Stamford Bridge. In Romelu Lukaku, the hosts have a player that requires just a sniff of a chance to score and we’re backing the Blues to nick this one.
Under 2.5 Goals -125 (DraftKings)
An open encounter and a deluge of goals shouldn’t be anticipated this weekend, instead expect a game decided by slim margins in London.
Two of the last three skirmishes between the clubs finished 1-0 in Chelsea’s favor and we’re tipping the heavyweights’ latest bout to be similarly low on goals.
We expect both teams to employ a caution-first approach on Saturday, where a chess-like battle could develop between two elite outfits. With that considered, the under 2.5 goals line stands out at a price worth backing with DraftKings.
Chelsea vs Manchester City Parlay
Chelsea Win and Under 2.5 +450 (DraftKings)
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Chelsea vs Manchester City Team News
Chelsea team news
Edouard Mendy and Christian Pulisic are still nursing injury complaints, though both players are expected to return to the fold for Chelsea this weekend.
Injured:
Suspended:
Manchester City team news
Defenders John Stones and Aymeric Laporte are both expected to miss Saturday’s game in what is a major double-blow to City’s chances. Rodrigo, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ilkay Gundogan are all rated as doubtful.
Injured: John Stones, Aymeric Laporte
Suspended:
