Manchester City's Spanish midfielder Rodrigo (L) vies with Chelsea's US midfielder Christian Pulisic (R) during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in London on January 3, 2021. (Photo by Andy Rain / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ANDY RAIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Manchester City is set to welcome Chelsea to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday for the third-round tie in the Carabao Cup. The host will hope to replicate their victory against this team when they met in January this year.
Pep Guardiola’s side has won this cup four times in the last five years. He will most likely rotate his squad in this upcoming game as they will face Brentford in the Premier League after this round.
The hosts lost to West Ham United in the fourth round last season, failing to reach their fifth straight semifinal. Chelsea, meanwhile, reached the final last season but lost to Liverpool on penalties.
In different forms going into the game are City and Chelsea. In their last five games across all competitions, City is unbeaten and has won four of them. In the Premier League, they recently defeated Fulham 2-1, with Erling Haaland scoring the game-winning penalty.
On the other hand, Chelsea has lost both of its previous three games in all competitions, including a 1-0 setback to Arsenal on Sunday at home.
Pep Guardiola’s team faces a challenging third-round match, but the visitors are in poor form following back-to-back losses, the manner of which has prompted concerns about Graham Potter’s influence in the coaching role. However, Chelsea will change up their starting lineup to at least guarantee a sense of freshness following the lackluster performance against Arsenal.
Form Guide: Manchester City
Manchester City performed admirably by defeating Fulham 2-1 despite having ten men for the whole of the contest. They continue to relentlessly pursue Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, but they have the League Cup this Wednesday as a diversion.
With three losses in the last six head-to-head meetings, including the infamous Champions League final loss, City hasn’t always had it easy against Chelsea. But since then, City hasn’t given up in more than three hours of action against Chelsea, and they should be well-positioned to win the Pensioners for the third time in a row.
Guardiola is likely to make some adjustments to the starting lineup, but given the club’s wealth of choices, we can expect a lineup of the highest caliber to take the field. Mostly due to an extremely alluring adversary at such a young stage of the tournament.
Form Guide: Chelsea
Chelsea progressed to the final of the EFL Cup last season before coming unstuck against Liverpool on penalties, and the five-time champions – who most recently won the crown in 2015 – have not gone out in the third round since the 2010-11 tournament.
Chelsea’s hopes of finishing in the top four are in jeopardy after two straight league losses. However, they most recently triumphed in their final Champions League group-stage match. In their last three games in all competitions, Chelsea has lost twice, including a 1-0 setback to Arsenal on Sunday at home.
Graham Potter has a decent chance of taking home his first trophy with his new club in this contest. He will pick his team carefully because several important players are still healing from injuries.
Chelsea has been finding goals hard to come by, scoring just five in their last six matches. They will need to find a way to break down the Manchester City defense as it is almost impossible to keep the home team scoreless in 90 minutes. Chelsea has been in very good away form, winning four of their last six matches with just one defeat.
How the game could go
A little over a year ago, Chelsea upset Manchester City in the Champions League final and achieved the biggest victory in the club’s history. On the other hand, Manchester City has become a much more mature team, they got Haaland, perhaps the best striker in the world, they are currently on a streak of 16 consecutive victories and no team has a great chance to win against them when it comes to England, so we take home victory.
Pep’s record in this competition is ridiculous in truth – he’s won 24 of the 26 matches in which he’s managed and the only side to beat him in that period is Manchester United (twice).
That spells trouble for a Chelsea side who look a bit lost right now, certainly offensively, and they will be in even more trouble if Pep decides to unleash Erling Haaland.
Betting Predictions
Manchester City to Win
Manchester City and Chelsea have been playing together in the Premier League for many seasons now, and this match between them would be very interesting. The facts remain the same though, Man City lost only one of the last twenty home games they played, while Chelsea lost or drew two of the last three away games they played. Manchester City also won two of the last three head-to-head games they played against Chelsea. Bet9ja have 1.50, 1xbet have 1.48 and Paripesa have 1.48 odds.
Over 2.5 goals
Three of the last five matches for Manchester City and Chelsea ended with more than 2.5 total goals scored. As it seems, their next game on Wednesday will most likely end that way, as well. Three of the last five games that Manchester City hosted against Chelsea also ended with more than 2.5 total goals scored, so this outcome is easier to predict for this specific game on Wednesday. Bet9ja have 1.58 odds, Paripesa have 1.69, and 1xbet have 1.69 odds.
Anytime Goalscorer (Chelsea)
Sterling
An early return to the Ethiad is up for the striker as he faces aside, he won the competition with four times. Sterling has had a quiet start to life at Stanford Bridge and a lot of fans feel he could have done better in some games. He comes into this game with a clear target which is to help his side qualify for the next round. His last goal was not long ago in the UCL as he helped his side equalize and eventually win the game. Bet9ja have 5.30 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 5.50.
Aubamayeng
His homecoming wasn’t what he predicted when he faced Arsenal last weekend he would be disappointed to not have gotten one over his former club. He has started relatively well and is now another chance to prove his money’s worth to help his side to a win here today. Bet9ja have 4.50 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 4.50.
Anytime Goalscorer (Manchester United)
Haaland
The Norwegian has surely lit the league up with 18 goals in 12 appearances he has had a more than incredible start to life in England. His goal helped his side win after converting from the penalty spot, he had a goal ruled out also in that match and he is certainly a goal machine. He might be rested for today’s game but the odds of him scoring are pretty good. Bet9ja have 1.70 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 1.60.
Kevin De Bryune Another stellar start to the season for the midfielder as we have seen already with lots of important goals and assists this season. With three goals in the PL this season and nine assists, this season and could bag more in today’s game Chelsea’s defense has faced a lot of trouble lately and he could be another nightmare today. Bet9ja have 3.80 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 3.60.
Football Lover. All-round junkie of the beautiful game. Could be found watching football most of the time. If not he’s writing about them or making some punditry you don’t agree with. A certain bias for Arsenal and Santos FC.
