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On Tuesday, Manchester City booked their place in the UEFA Champions League Final. On Wednesday, Chelsea did the same. The two teams will meet each other in the Premier League this Saturday, three weeks before their trophy clash in Istanbul. City could be crowned champions if they beat the Blues.
Manchester City and Chelsea embody the present. For all the talk of the two clubs having a relatively obscure past, they have ensured that what defines them as footballing institutions is what they do in the present. One can point to the fact that the two teams only became relevant due to huge investments from their benefactors, but one can’t deny that they have been the best English teams over the past decade and a half.
It is no surprise seeing those two teams book their place in this season’s Champions League final, provided that is what they’ve worked towards for the better part of the last decade. Their upcoming league match can be termed as a dress rehearsal for the trophy match, which is scheduled to take place towards the end of the month.
While the two teams have often kept toe-to-toe at the top of the table, Chelsea have fallen behind this season. The Blues are only fourth in the table, albeit that too is an improvement after mid-season woes saw them fall as low as ninth. City, on the other hand, are on the cusp of glory. They could’ve secured their title last weekend if not for a huge protest. However, that only delayed the inevitable, and Pep Guardiola’s team will be crowned champions of England if they beat their rivals.
Key Players
Riyad Mahre has transformed himself into Manchester City’s man for the big occasions. Mahrez scored thrice across two legs against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals, as his team booked their place in the final. The Algerian winger has 14 goals and seven assists this season across all competitions, but it is his recent form that makes him a potential threat for Chelsea.
Shouts for Ruben Dias to be named Premier League’s Player of the Year aren’t far off. The Portugal international arrived at the Etihad in the summer for a massive fee but has looked worth every penny so far. He has been a constant figure in the City defence throughout the season. The Portuguese is likely to end the campaign with several awards – both with his club and individually.
The cameras clicked what will go down as one of the most memorable pictures in Chelsea’s history in their win over Real Madrid midweek. It depicted Mason Mount screaming in joy, having scored his side’s second goal of the night. Mount personifies the current Chelsea team with his hunger, drive, and will to go the extra mile for the right result. He has transformed himself into a significant player for the Blues and will look to finish the season on a positive note.
Kai Havertz is beginning to show signs of his true promise. Against Real Madrid on Wednesday night, the German attacker delivered what many consider to be his best performance in a blue shirt to date. The youngster’s work rate was immense on the night as he ran the most out of all the players involved in the match. He also could’ve scored a hattrick himself but was let down by luck, and his finishing ability, at times.
Prediction
The fixture between Manchester City and Chelsea has turned into a modern classic, with the two teams often fighting for superiority in the league. There have been several memorable encounters in the past decade between the two teams – from Frank Lampard scoring against Chelsea in the other shade of blue to Antonio Conte’s Chelsea side blowing away the Citizens with a counter-attacking masterclass.
Whether their upcoming match will follow in the path of those remarkable meetings is hard to determine at the moment. However, the tie between these two is very rarely a dull affair. Chelsea and Manchester City have met twice already this season, once in the league and once in the cup. City won their league tie earlier this season thanks to a first-half masterclass by Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden. However, much recently, Chelsea beat Pep Guardiola’s team to book their place in the FA Cup final. As it happens, their upcoming tie is finely poised.
Both teams have different motivations going into the match. For Chelsea, it is a matter of consolidating their position in the top four, but for Manchester City, a win would secure the Premier League title. As such, the Citizens are likely to be driven just a little bit more than their opponents. They should be the favourites to win the match – if the tag must be assigned.
