Chelsea FC Host Manchester City: Team News, Prediction And Stats
Chelsea FC welcome Manchester City to Stamford Bridge this afternoon for a fifth round FA Cup clash. Can the Blues bounce-back after a midweek loss?
Premier League football takes another break this weekend as the FA Cup provides us with the action. In the fifth round of the competition, Chelsea are just three wins away from booking their spot at Wembley for the final.
This afternoon sees the Blues take on Manchester City in the tie of the week. Guus Hiddink will be hoping that the midweek battle with PSG has sharpened his team for another high-profile game, as they seek to paper over a dismal campaign with an unlikely FA Cup triumph.
Key Details
Chelsea FC v Manchester City, 21st February 2016, FA Cup
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Time: 16:00 GMT, 11:00 ET
TV: BBC One (UK), Fox Sports 2 (US), check your country’s local listings here
Team News
Chelsea captain John Terry continues to be sidelined after hobbling off with a seemingly innocuous injury last weekend. The Englishman missed Tuesday evening’s Champions League clash with PSG and did not even travel with the squad either. Hiddink has confirmed that Terry will not be available today.
After being named as a substitute in Paris, Matt Miazga is close to being deemed fully fit. The young American has been working to get himself up to match speed and he may well feature at some point this afternoon if required.
Meanwhile, the quest to locate Radamel Falcao enters yet another weekend as the Colombian is still nowhere to be found. He’s been injured for as long as I can remember and he doesn’t seem close to resurfacing anytime soon.
Hiddink stated that Bertrand Traore, despite some impressive cameos, is unlikely to be thrown into the deep end at Stamford Bridge later. Having said that, he would not hesitate to bring him on should the situation necessitate his involvement.
With regard to the opposition, City boss Manuel Pellegrini has already stated that he will field a weakened team with their Champions League clash on Wednesday taking priority. As a result, relative unknowns such as Manu Garcia and Bersant Celina may get the nod this afternoon.
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Stats
The last meeting between these two sides saw Man City take the Blues apart and register a 3-1 Premier League victory. This contest was particularly notable for Jose Mourinho’s substitution of John Terry at half time.
The FA Cup fifth round two seasons ago saw Chelsea travel to the Etihad for a game that the Blues lost 2-0. Furthermore, the campaign before had the two teams square off in a semi-final, with City again coming out on top as 2-1 victors.
Pellegrini’s men have been faltering lately, having lost their last two games on the bounce. A 3-1 defeat at the hands of Leicester City was followed by a 2-1 loss at White Hart Lane. However, City have not drawn a blank in their last seven competitive fixtures.
Entertainment should be guaranteed as well. The last six City games have averaged four goals per game while the back of the net has been hit 28 times in the last eight Blues fixtures.
Next: Chelsea FC Predicted XI To Take On Manchester City: No Eden Hazard, Or Youth
Prediction
Chelsea 2-1. The Blues manage to take advantage of a weakened City team to progress to the quarter-finals.