Chelsea V Manchester City Betting: Saturday, 27th February (SKY SPORTS)

Chelsea V Manchester City

Saturday, 27^th February – 12:45 GMT (Sky Sports 1)

Chelsea

League Position: 1st

Recent Form: WDWLW

Chelsea were nursing an Everton hangover at the weekend, with their groggy and largely shabby performance at Molineux evidence of a tough outing earlier in the week at Goodison. However, like true Champions do, Chelsea bounced back with an important win, a 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, and that win not only kept Chelsea at the top of the table but it also sent them four points clear at the top in the process. So, all in all it was a very good weekend for Chelsea but can they go one better by gaining revenge for their loss at The City of Manchester by beating an overvalued Manchester City in the weekend’s kick-start fixture.  

While their weekend went to plan when beating Wolves 2-0 at Molineux, Chelsea’s bid for that elusive first Champions League title was dealt a blow when falling to a 2-1 defeat in Milan on Wednesday night. Despite a rare goal from Salomoun Kalou, a Chelsea side which clearly wasn’t at the races had only a solitary away goal to celebrate in what was a poor first leg defeat to Inter Milan. That loss leaves Chelsea chasing the tie and needing to beat Inter in the reverse leg at Stamford Bridge. Ancelotti will still have every belief that his side will overhaul the deficit when the two teams met for the second time in a fortnights time, but there are growing concerns over this Chelsea side which simply isn’t performing to the high standard we all come to expect. 

It’s back to business now though for Carlo Ancelotti and Chelsea as he aims to drag this below par Chelsea side back to winning ways with a win at home to Manchester City at the weekend. He may have his work cut out mind after watching his main man between the sticks limp off in agony on Wednesday night. Cech is certain to miss this fixture with City, whilst his entire season could well be over as his injury looked a drastic one. We are yet to hear just how extensive the injury his but his absence will have a huge impact on the Chelsea results as his saves have kept Chelsea in some of their recent encounters, none more than at the weekend when he pulled off two miraculous stops against Wolves. The time of his injury has come at the worst time for Ancelotti, whom has had to deal with the off-pitch antics of both John Terry & Ashley Cole, whilst the latter will miss the remainder of the season with a broken ankle.

The positives though, if you’re looking to have a punt on the home side this Saturday is Chelsea’s superb form at Stamford Bridge this season, having dropped points on just one occasions. Only Everton have gone to Stamford Bridge and taken a share of the spoils in thirteen games, whilst no-one has had the audacity to actually beat Chelsea at home thus far. However, the concerns are in the defence as Chelsea have looked a right mess at the back in recent outings. They will need a solid, inspirational performance from their club captain, John Terry, on Saturday as he’s been well below par of late. Chelsea have, however, kept two successive clean sheets at home in the league, but will that run come to end in the absence of Petr Cech?

Manchester City

League Position: 5th

Recent Form: WLWDD

After a lousy display on Sunday in a game City fans were hyping up as the fixture they really announce themselves as the top contender for a fourth place finish, Manchester City go in search of back-to-back wins over Chelsea by earning what would be a shock victory at Stamford Bridge. Roberto Mancini wasn’t at the helm at the time City beat Chelsea 2-1 at The City of Manchester stadium in December, so has he done his homework on the current leaders, and, if so, will even some light-hearted research be enough to overhaul the Premiership title favourites on their own patch?

If you want an honest answer to that question from us then it’s a firm NO! This City squad is proving all the critics right in that City are jam packed with Mercenary’s. Most of the players at Eastlands are only there because City’s mega rich owners dangled bags-a-plenty of cash in front of their noses. Gareth Barry, Joeleon Lescott, Roque Santa Cruz, heck even Emmanuel Adebayor have all failed to meet the high expectations enforced on them due to their hefty price tags. Only Craig Bellamy & Carlos Tevez have actually been players worth mentioning as they’ve been the only two who’ve shown bags of spirit and determination, with the pair pouring their heart and soul into this City cause. However, neither have been available for action it would seem, with Tevez flying back to Argentina on compassionate leave while Craig Bellamy’s war of words with Mancini has cost him a place in the starting eleven – Bad times!

Roberto Mancini will know the importance of setting a marker at the club, installing some discipline into the City ranks, but he really does need to swallow his pride by selecting Craig Bellamy for Saturday’s fixture. He has been the stand out player in that City squad for a long time now, with his model like work ethic and his marauding runs down the flanks. Not only has he led by example in regards to raising the effort level in matches with his never give up attitude but he’s also been arguably City’s biggest danger in the final third, often being the creator in an artistic City forward move. They struggled dearly without the Wales international on Sunday in a match where City shown next to nothing in the final third, with City becoming far too predictable in an attacking sense.

The likes of Bellamy and Tevez give opposing defenders something to think about as City’s tireless strikers just don’t stop running, always closing the opposition down and forcing their opponents into mistakes. Without them, City will struggle, and have done in recent outings, failing to win in either of their last two league games now, whilst also playing out a frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Stoke City in the FA Cup. City will now have to play a replay on Wednesday night, one which will hamper their preparations head of such a daunting weekend fixture. If they do somehow escape The Brittania with a win on Wednesday night then perhaps that will give the City players a much needed boost in confidence. However, defeat and City could crumble in their upcoming fixtures starting with defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Match Verdict: Chelsea to WIN – 1.50 PaddyPower

We know Chelsea haven’t been as consistent and reliable at the back as we would have liked, mainly because we’ve been one of their biggest critics of late, but their opponents have been far too negative of late and will be reeling after their FA Cup demise on Wednesday, getting knocked out by Stoke City. The Chelsea defence will need to improve, greatly in our eyes, but even with their recent lapses in defence, Chelsea should be far too strong for City at Stamford Bridge, a venue where only Everton have walked away from unscathed. We don’t fancy City to leave London without any lasting scars, so Chelsea get our seal of approval to make an instant return to winning ways after a disappointing result in midweek.

Match Odds:

Chelsea – 1.50 PaddyPower

Draw – 4.30 Bet365

Manchester City – 8.00 Coral

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Chelsea/Chelsea (HT/FT Betting) – 2.30 Boylesports