Chelsea vs Man City SS1 & SS1HD KO 16:00 20th March - Battle of the Billionaires

superfrank

VS

he UEFA Champions League race hots up this weekend as Chelsea host third-placed Manchester City on Sunday.

A dismal run before Christmas not only saw Chelsea slip out of the title race but also left last season's Double winners facing the unthinkable of failing to finish in the top four altogether.

But while Carlo Ancelotti's men are yet to regain their scintillating early-season form, they have given themselves a chance of salvaging something from the current campaign.

Since losing 1-0 at Wolves on January 5, Chelsea have lost just once in all competitions, progressing to the Champions League quarter-finals while boosting their hopes of securing a place in next season's competition.

Five wins from their last seven games put the Blues back above fifth-placed Tottenham and they trail City by two points with a game in hand.

United draw

Wednesday's 0-0 draw at home to Copenhagen ensured Chelsea made a comfortable passage into the last eight of the Champions League, where they have since been handed a mouth-watering tie with Manchester United in a repeat of the 2008 final.

City's European dream is in tatters, though, as their 1-0 win at home to Dynamo Kiev on Thursday night was not enough to put them into the Europa League quarter-finals.

City also have a huge game with derby rivals United to look forward to - an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley next month.

But Robert Mancini's men have just three days to recover from that hammer blow in Europe if they are to maintain their fine recent record against Chelsea.

After winning only two of their first 24 Premier League games with Chelsea, City have won their last three meetings, claiming a memorable 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge last season.

Carlos Tevez scored the only goal as City ended the defending champions' 100 per cent start to the season back in September and the City skipper has scored six in his last five Premier League games against Chelsea.

Although City have lost just one of their last nine in all competitions, they have looked jaded in recent weeks and must regroup quickly to ensure they stay clear of Tottenham and achieve their minimum target of a top-four finish this season.

Team news
Brazilian defender Alex is set to be back in the Chelsea squad after his long-standing absence with a knee injury.

Yossi Benayoun is close to coming back from the serious Achilles problem that has sidelined him since September but Sunday's game is too soon for his return.

Ancelotti may rotate his side following the midweek game with Copenhagen, potentially bringing Fernando Torres, Michael Essien, Florent Malouda and the ineligible David Luiz back into the starting line-up.

Mario Balotelli is set to be left out by Mancini after his costly red card in midweek.

Balotelli's suspension only applies to European competition but Mancini appears to have lost patience with the controversial striker so Edin Dzeko could start.

Winger Adam Johnson has recovered from his ankle injury sooner than expected and is back in contention having come off the bench in midweek.

Possible starting XIs:

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Luiz, Cole, Ramires, Essien, Lampard, Malouda, Droga, Torres.

Man City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, De Jong, Barry, Y Toure, Silva, Dzeko, Tevez.

Going to be a Tough one cause Man City have done us the last 3 times. City will be happy with a draw and I can see them parking the bus and looking to hit us on the Counter.

Torres to Score on his 27th Birthday?? Hopefully :D


I'm going 2-1 Chelsea.....Predictions?

Xavi6

2-0 Chelsea

greendom

Mancini generally goes very defensive when playing a team near the top of the table, especially away, hopefully he'll change his philosophy for today but I think we'll see a very very dull game.

Le King

2-1 City

TanG411

0-0.

flahavaj

A draw I suppose would round off avery good weekend for United, but I think Chelsea will be too strong for City. Despite their big spending and squad size, it appears City have been struggling a little to compete on three fronts the past few weeks. Their performance level has dipped quite a bit and the spark is gone out of their game.

jaykay74

Hoping for a draw. expect chelsea to win by 2

Johner

Actually fairly confident of getting a win here. 3-1 Chelsea.

superfrank

Expecting this Genius to Impress Again

Panthro

hope we get an early Torres goal to settle us.
followed by loads of Torres goals during the course of the game.
I'll settle for a 2-0 win though

Nailz

Hoping for 1-1 or any sort of draw, but I see Chelsea winning this 2-1 or 3-1.

Pauleta

Mancini wont bother trying to win the game and Chelsea's strikers cant score so i would imagine it will end 0-0. The other game at eastlands was the worst game of football ive ever seen.

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

ShooterSF

Xavi6 wrote: »

2-0 Chelsea

Hey that trick is patented by the United fans. Cease and desist or expect a summons

superfrank

Just Seen on Twitter that Tevez is too ill to play today according to Talksport...Any one else hear this?

Would Be a Great Boost for Chelsea !!

Johner

Twitter. Just heard Kalou and Torres are starting with Drogba on the bench. Tevez has failed a fitness test for City.

superfrank

Twitter:
@chelseafc
Stamford The Lion
Welcome to Stamford Bridge. Just heard Kalou and Torres are starting with Drogba on the bench. Tevez has failed a fitness test for City #CFC :O :O :O

You Bet me to it!!

Johner

Great news that Tevez isn't playing.

Xavi6

City - Hart; Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov; De Jong, Barry, Yaya Touré; Silva, Milner, Džeko

Johner

Balotelli on the bench.

Headshot

A really dull match

0-0

Sgt Pepper 64

its confirmed, tevez out, kalou and torres in. just hope kalou either passes to torres or doesn't miss from one yard out as usual

Johner

Chelsea team for Man City: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Essien, Ramires, Lampard, Malouda, Kalou, Torres.

Johner

Chelsea subs for Man C: Turnbull, Drogba, Mikel, Bosingwa, Zhirkov, Ferreira, Anelka.

blockedPaT

2-1 Chelsea Torres to score the winner for ye

Panthro

obligitory "anyone got a link lads?" post

mike65

Interesting non use of Drogba and Anelka. Have both been benched together since Torres arrived?

Nalz

is Tevez on the bench?

edit: nope

Substitutes
12 Taylor, 17 Boateng, 38 Boyata, 08 Wright-Phillips, 11 Johnson, 24 Vieira, 45 Balotelli

Paully D

0-0 or 1-0 Chelsea.

flahavaj

Ancelotti hasnt got a Kalou.

:pac:

Xavi6

Trilla wrote: »

is Tevez on the bench?

No - Taylor, Wright-Phillips, A Johnson, Vieira, Boateng, Balotelli, Boyata.

Turtyturd

Johner wrote: »

Balotelli on the bench.

Thought Mancini might have left him out after mid week. Hope he has his jersey on under his tracksuit and doesn't have to try put it on before he comes on.

Hope City pick up the win but aint confident with Tevez missing.

chelseavera

Heard early in the week Carlo played 11 v 11 in training with this partnership on one side and Drogs and Anelka on the other. Hoped this was significant - as the 'French' boys seem reluctant to set up Torres. Just a pity (imo) its not Yuri for Malouda.
I see a 2 or 3 nil here. Micah Richards and Silva are our only worries.
C'mon You Beauties!!!

The Muppet

Tevez out with groin , big loss for city

ricero

come on citeh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

L'prof

Anyone see Džeko taking the piss out of Balotelli and his bib mishap? Quality!!!

adox

Drogba on the bench yet again a mind boggling decision.

Looking forward to a borefest.

adox

The Muppet wrote: »

Tevez out with groin , big loss for city

Yeah they'll miss the two of them badly.

Dr.Winston O'Boogie

Just like I had a horrible feeling Rooney would undo City despite playing crap I have a horrible feeling Torres is about to do the same

Sgt Pepper 64

good set up for torres, central striker, amid two wingers

Xavi6

This won't end well

KittyeeTrix

Jaysus,,,,,,,,doom and gloom all over the place!!!:D:D

City to play a blinder today..Game to be a fast paced, end to end thriller with City edging out a winning goal in the 6th minute of additional injury time......Winning goal to be a bicycle kick by Super Mario to rival Rooney's one!!!

Torres to be sent off in the 1st half

Chelsea 2 City 3

How's that for optimism for ya!!:D:D

(*starts praying)

Lukker-

Silence kept by both supporters, good to see.

Nalz

John Terry got the hairgel in after the warmup and before kickoff, thats preparation for ya ...dunno how I could never play with that stuff in my hair.

Gonna go with 2-0 Chelsea

Nalz

Lukker- wrote: »

Silence kept by both supporters, good to see.

unlike the Marseilles fans at OT this week. Awful stuff.

Xavi6

fluffyorganic1 wrote: »

Jaysus,,,,,,,,doom and gloom all over the place!!!:D:D

City to play a blinder today..Game to be a fast paced, end to end thriller with City edging out a winning goal in the 6th minute of additional injury time......Winning goal to be a bicycle kick by Super Mario to rival Rooney's one!!!

Torres to be sent off in the 1st half

Chelsea 2 City 3

How's that for optimism for ya!!:D:D

(*starts praying)

Lukker-

Chelsea playing 4-4-2

KittyeeTrix

Xavi6 wrote: »

Haha, that's what supporting City can do to ya sometimes (drive ya bloody mad!!):D

Lukker-

Chelsea need to switch to 4-3-3 IMO, City's midfield is way to packed.

Mushy

I can imagine it being 2-0 with the second being a breakaway goal in a close game.

jcf

any decent streams for this? , sopcast doesn't work for me.