All attention turns to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, August 18, 2024, as Chelsea trade tackles with Premier League champions Manchester City.
This encounter is coming 15 days after both sides locked horns in pre-season, with the Cityzens humbling Chelsea 4-2 at the Ohio Stadium in Ohio, United States.
Chelsea Vs Manchester City Preview
Chelsea were poor in pre-season, losing 3 of their 6 matches, drawing 2, and winning only 1.
The change of guard at the Stamford Bridge side hasn’t changed their fortunes, as they appear like they are still in the dungeon.
Mauricio Pochettino exited the London-based club at the end of the 2023/24 season, with Enzo Maresca being appointed as his successor.
Maresca was a former assistant manager of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and the match-up on Sunday, August 18, 2024, promises to be immensely intense.
The Cityzens come into this game in good spirits, having silenced neighbors Manchester United via penalties in the Community Shield on Saturday, August 10, 2024.
They had a wishy-washy preseason, losing to Celtic and AC Milan on July 24 and 27 respectively, before playing out a 2-2 draw with Barcelona.
Their final pre-season game was against Chelsea on August 3, 2024, and they demolished the Blues 4-2, as aforementioned.
They will be hoping to better and possibly replicate that outing on Sunday, while Enzo Maresca’s side look to stun the Premier League champions.
Both sides met on three occasions during the 2023/24 season, with the two clubs being inseparable across two legs in the Premier League.
Manchester City managed to defeat Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final, played in April 2024, courtesy of a late goal by Bernardo Silva.
It will be fascinating to see where the pendulum will swing on Sunday, August 18, 2024.
Essential Records To Note
Meanwhile, the Cityzens have won their opening Premier League match in 12 of the last 13 seasons, with the exception being a 1-0 loss at Tottenham in 2021-22.
Chelsea haven’t secured a win in their last six Premier League meetings with Manchester City (D2 L4), since a 2-1 away victory in May 2021.
Since losing the Uefa Champions League final in May 2021, Manchester City are unbeaten in their last nine meetings with Chelsea in all competitions (W7 D2).
This is the Cityzens longest run without defeat against the Blues in their history (also 9 between 1936 and 1949).
Additionally, no team has earned more points from their opening matches of the Premier League season than Chelsea (67), with only Manchester United picking up more wins (21) than the Blues (20).
The encounter for Enzo Maresca’s side against Manchester City is the first time Chelsea will begin a top-flight campaign with a match against the reigning champions since 1971-72 when they lost 3-0 against Arsenal at Highbury.
Team News For Chelsea
Reece James will be absent from the game, as he is currently nursing another hamstring injury.
James is also suspended for this game after his sending-off against Brighton towards the end of last season.
Nicolas Jackson came off the bench in their 1-1 draw with Inter at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, August 11, 2023, following an ankle issue that prevented him from featuring in their engagements in the USA.
Meanwhile, defender Axel Disasi was also on the bench after recovering from hernia surgery, while Omari Kellyman and Djordje Petrovic have also been battling with fitness issues.
Pedro Neto, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Tosin Adarabioyo, Filip Jorgensen, and Marc Guiu will be hoping to make their competitive Chelsea debuts on Sunday, August 18, 2024.
Moreover, midfielder Conor Gallagher is waiting to complete a move to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.
Team News For Manchester City
Jack Grealish might not be available for the opener after picking up a knock in training and missing the Community Shield at Wembley.
Brazilian winger Savinho is expected to make his Premier League debut after joining from sister club Troyes, while Oscar Bobb will not feature after fracturing a bone in his leg and is set to be out until January 2025.
Rodri, Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, and John Stones have all now returned to training with Manchester City and are in contention to start against Chelsea, after enjoying their off-season breaks following their engagements at Euro 2024.
Chelsea vs Manchester City Potential Line-ups
Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, W. Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Lavia, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Guiu.
Manchester City: Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic; Savinho, Bernardo, De Bruyne, Doku; Haaland.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea
Kick-off Time And Date: 04:30 PM, August 18, 2024.
