Chelsea can climb into a tie for first-place with a win at home against Manchester City. Will they do it against Pep Guardiola’s men, so soon after the Atletico Madrid win?
Chelsea dispatched the first title challenger they encountered this season with their 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur. The Blues are a stronger club going into the game against City, but they may also be a more tired club.
On the other side, Manchester City have three starters out with injury. Will the Blues be able to take advantage of Pep’s more expensive but depleted side?
Barrett Rouen: Chelsea 3 – 1 Manchester City. City will be deflated by their recent run of injuries to big players. Chelsea will be feeling the opposite: incredibly positive and confident.
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Travis Tyler: 3 – 1. City’s injuries will hurt them, but not as much as it appears as they get an early wonder goal. But this Chelsea team has a fight in them and the confidence to back it. They will roar back with an outstanding second half display that take them into the international break level with second at worst, level with first if best. (Crystal Palace really need something to feel good about right now, and I rather it be a win over Manchester United before the break than a win over Chelsea after.)
Daniel Mcclue: 2 – 2. City’s random, weird, no formation thing they do draws Chelsea out into a slug-fest. Eden Hazard scores both goals for the Blues, after Jesus and De Bruyne put City 2-0 up before the half.
Kevin Peacock: 2 – 0. Hot on the heals of a memorable win at the Wanda Metropolitano, Chelsea are brim full of confidence. City’s run of easy wins comes to an end at Stamford Bridge, Home of the Champions. The game is cagey from the start but two breakaway goals, one in each half, see Chelsea run out 2-0 winners. Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata with the goals, obvs.
Brendan McDonnell: On Tuesday, I likely would’ve said something like 2-1 City or 2-2 at best, but everything about this match feels different now. City getting mauled by the injury dinosaur (the Aguero injury is super odd, right?) plus an absolutely flawless performance vs. Atletico has made me rethink this fixture entirely. Antonio Conte has found magic with Hazard and Morata and I think the Blues score at least 2 en route to an easy 3 points.
Scott Brant: 3 – 2. Manchester City will miss Aguero and rely upon Gabriel Jesus. He and Morata net two. Eden Hazard adds a successful penalty. Expect a back-and-forth match with dodgy defense on both ends. Three points at home against City after winning vs. Atletico Wednesday would really round the week out well.
Abhishek Pancholi: 2 – 1. The proper Blues will go 1-0 up before the break, then double their lead by the 70th minute of the second half. City will pull one back and threaten to level things, but Chelsea will hang on for a crucial 3 points.
Vishnu Raj: 2 – 0. On the back of a brilliant display against Atletico Madrid, Chelsea will be high on confidence. Expect Morata to score. Eden Hazard will be dictating things in the ground as usual while injuries make things more difficult for Man City.
George Perry: Minimum two appalling calls, two appalling non-calls by the match official. Antonio Conte gets a warning to stay in his technical area, just to mollify Jose Mourinho.
Next: Chelsea vs. Man City's key clashes: Fatigue vs. injuries, creators vs. defence, Pep vs. Conte