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Match preview - Manchester City vs. Chelsea - Cash of the Fat Cats
Thursday 03 December 2009
Premier League leaders Chelsea travel to the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday for the late afternoon kick-off hoping to continue their superb run of form. The Blues are unbeaten in nine matches and have won 12 from 14 games so far in the league. Looking to stop them are a City side who have forgotten how to win a league match after drawing their last seven on the bounce. As a result, questions have arisen about their inability to kill teams off, as they have let slip leads on more than one occasion. However, the Citizens have not lost at home all season, and Mark Hughes will hope that his expensively assembled side will put the league leaders on the back foot from the first whistle. The ex-Welsh International can take comfort in the fact that Chelsea have lost two of their last four Premier League away fixtures.
Manchester City - Hughes could continue with the same back four that kept a clean sheet midweek against Arsenal even though Vincent Kompany is available again for selection, but may miss out due to the current form of the Citizens other defenders. The creative Robinho is also set to return in some capacity, whether it is starting the match or coming off the bench, the skillful Brazilian is sure to make something happen in the final third. Martin Petrov is still sidelined for the Sky Blues but they have plenty of cover in that position with Craig Bellamy and Shaun Wright-Phillips due to continue on both flanks. Chelsea’s defensive prowess and strength at the back could force Hughes to start with both Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz up-front to compete with the aerial ability of John Terry’s back line, however, Carlos Tevez would be a hard player to refuse especially after such a sublime match-winning solo effort in the League Cup.
1 Given
2 Richards - 28 Toure - 19 Lescott - 3 Bridge
8 Wright-Phillips - 34 De Jong - 18 Barry - 39 Bellamy
25 Adebayor - 32 Tevez
Chelsea - Carlo Ancelotti made several changes for the trip to Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday and a stronger first XI will certainly trot onto the field in Manchester. Captain John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho should return to marshal the defence, and regulars Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka should all return to form the spine of the Pensioners team. There are a few positions that Ancelotti likes to rotate - his wingers or the flanks of his diamond tend to be compiled from Joe Cole, Florent Malouda, Michael Ballack and Deco. Expect Ballack to return to dominate aerial battles in the middle of the park against City’s small midfield, and Malouda’s natural pace and fitness should counter balance the speed of Wright-Phillips on the left hand side. Jose Bosingwa is still unavailable due to continuing problems with his knee, as is Alex who has a hip injury and Daniel Sturridge (also knee).
1 Cech
2 Ivanovic - 26 Terry - 6 Carvalho - 3 A Cole
5 Essien
13 Ballack - 8 Lampard - 15 Malouda
11 Drogba - 39 Anelka
Top scorer Drogba is currently in the form of his life scoring 11 in 13 starts, the Ivorian has a vast armoury - great in the air, he brings other players into the game with ease and can hold the ball up and allow his midfield to catch up with play, he also has a solid shot from distance and proved this with a powerful side-footed free-kick last Sunday. Alternatively, Robinho scored on his debut in this fixture last season, and perhaps some more of his Samba magic this time round could see off the silverware hungry Blues. With the current form the Pensioners bring into this game it is hard to predict any other result than a Chelsea win. Added to this are some brilliant defensive performances against the other big four, easily brushing aside a weakened Arsenal team last weekend and also never looking likely to concede against Liverpool and Manchester United, the Citizens will certainly have their work cut out if they hope to beat Ancelotti’s men. Nevertheless, confidence will be high at Eastlands coming into this match as Hughes’ team convincingly reached the semi-finals of the League Cup on Wednesday. The mood in their opponents' camp however may seem a little more melancholic as Chelsea were dumped out after penalties - by Hughes' former side Blackburn Rovers.
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