Chelsea FC vs. Manchester United Match-ups To Watch
By Mike Adams
Credit: YouTube user TYT Sports
1. Nemanja Matic vs. Angel Di Maria/ United’s attacking midfield
Starting off in the midfield, the play of Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic this season has been one of the main reasons Chelsea sit clear on top of the Premier League table at this point. The level of quality he has brought to the position has been great since his arrival/return from Benfica last January, being part of a defense that has only given up eight goals so far in league play. Spending most of his time directly in front of the center backs when defending, the towering 6’4″ Serbian will look to make it difficult for United’s attacking midfield to create chances and build up momentum.
Since arriving from Real Madrid this summer for a British record transfer fee, Angel Di Maria has been one of the few bright spots for Manchester United. Scoring three goals and providing another four assists in his seven league appearances, the midfielder provides much needed electricity to the Red Devils attack. If Matic can contain the Argentinian and force Di Maria into a pedestrian performance, look for Chelsea to dominate the tempo of the game much like they have in the majority of their matches this season.