Man City vs Chelsea Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 English FA Cup | Semi-Final
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THE FACTS
When is Man City vs Chelsea on and what time does it start? Man City vs Chelsea will take place on Saturday 20th April, 2024 – 17:15 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Man City vs Chelsea? Visit each team’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Man City vs Chelsea on in the UK? BBC and ITV share the rights to FA Cup matches so it is worth checking their schedules for Man City vs Chelsea
Where can I stream Man City vs Chelsea in the UK? If televised on BBC, Man City vs Chelsea can be streamed live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app. If televised on ITV, the match can be streamed live on ITVX
THE LOWDOWN
MAN CITY
Manchester City had their hopes of a historic ‘double treble’ ended in midweek as they were eliminated at the quarter-final stage of the UEFA Champions League on penalties. Madrid took a 4-3 aggregate lead early on via Rodrygo before Kevin De Bruyne’s second-half equaliser but the dominant Mancunians could not overturn the early deficit.
They have lacked a level fluency and freedom that they have shown in previous seasons but did return to the top-of-the-table in the Premier League last season with their 5-1 demolition of Luton Town at the Etihad Stadium before followed by both title rivals Arsenal and Liverpool suffering surprise home defeats to Aston Villa and Crystal Palace respectively.
CHELSEA
Mauricio Pochettino has come under intense pressure throughout this season but the Blues head into this weekend’s FA Cup semi-final on the back of an eight-match unbeaten run of form across all competitions since they suffered a 1-0 loss to Liverpool after extra-time at Wembley Stadium against Liverpool in the final of the EFL Cup in late February.
The Londoners come into this one on the back of a Cole Palmer-inspired 6-0 annihilation of Everton at Stamford Bridge at the weekend with the England international scoring four goals in the game. Prior to that, they had experienced seven successive matches in which both teams had scored at least twice in the match.
THE TEAM NEWS
MAN CITY
Pep Guardiola said that both Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland requested to be substituted against Real Madrid in midweek so it is unknown what their availability is for this weekend.
Kyle Walker made an early return from injury and could also be rested for this week’s clash with Chelsea but the only other doubt is defender Manuel Akanji.
PREDICTED XI (4-1-4-1): Ortega; Lewis, Stones, Gvardiol, Ake; Rodri; Foden, Silva, Alvarez, Doku; Haaland
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Akanji (Injured), De Bruyne (Injured), Haaland (Injured)
CHELSEA
Mauricio Pochettino has had an injury ravaged squad throughout the campaign and is still dealing with issues such as long-term absentees Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia.
The likes of Robert Sanchez and Raheem Sterling are doubts with illness for this one, whilst Axel Disasi and Enzo Fernandez are also injury doubts.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Gusto, Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson
UNAVAILABLE: Fofana (Injured), Colwill (Injured), James (Injured), Ugochukwu (Injured), Lavia (Injured), Nkunku (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Sanchez (Illness), Disasi (Injured), Fernandez (Injured), Sterling (Illness)
THE PREDICTION
In their two Premier League games this season, Chelsea managed to hold defending champions and league leaders Manchester City to two draws and the Blues will be confident of exploiting a potentially tired City side. City’s tight defence from last season has definitely regressed with no clean sheets in their last five matches across all competitions and just two in their last 11 games. Chelsea’s 31 Premier League games have consisted of 113 goals with their five FA Cup matches totalling 19, too. City remain favourites to defend the trophy but what would be a sensible bet is to back a high-scoring thriller at Wembley.
TIP: OVER 2.5 GOALS
